Flutie retires from the NFL

Posted by Greg Cruey May 18, 2006

NFL quarterback Doug Flutie has decided to call it quits after 21 seasons in pro football, according to a recent USA Today article.

While Flutie has made football history in the past decade, many people are less aware of his contributions to the world of special needs education. Flutie founded the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, named after his autistic son, to help in the fight against autism. The foundation's mission is to aid financially disadvantaged families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism; to fund education and research into the causes and consequences of childhood autism; and to serve as a clearinghouse and communications center for new programs and services developed for individuals with autism.

Doug and his wife, Laurie, first began raising funds for autism in 1998. In 2000, they established the foundation. They've raised more than 7 million dollars for autism.

Flutie will work as a college football analyst fro ABC and ESPN during the coming football season.