Doug Flutie Talks Dancing with the Stars, Rob Gronkowski
DOUG FLUTIE AND KARINA SMIRNOFF Photo by Craig Sjodin / ABC
Boston sports icon Doug Flutie is trading in his football cleats for a pair of dancing shoes as he prepares to compete on the latest season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
As the man behind one of the most memorable last-second passes in football history, the Boston College legend and former New England Patriots star is used to high pressure situations. However, Flutie admits that he was “a nervous wreck” heading into the first rehearsal with his new teammate and professional dance partner Karina Smirnoff.
After a few hard practices, though, the former Heisman Trophy winner thinks he’s finally getting the swing of things and is ready to show off his moves to the world.
“Now, I’m kind of excited for it,” Flutie says. “You kind of turn a little corner one day where it starts to make sense, then all of a sudden you can work on the little details.”
He adds, “It’s become more fun.”
Flutie fans in Boston are in for a treat as the retired star hints that he has prepared a Hub-themed routine for the show. He hopes local supporters will once again have his back as he looks to add another trophy to his collection.
“I can’t say anything, but the Boston area people are going to enjoy our routine, that there’s a connection,” Flutie says. “Whenever I’ve done anything in the Boston area, especially with our foundation, I’ve gotten a lot of support. And with this, I’m hoping the Boston area people will get behind me.”
It’s going to be a tough competition for Flutie as the B.C. legend will be going up against a few active professional athletes. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller are also apart of this year’s cast, as well as UFC fighter Paige VanZant.
While Flutie knows that his athletic background won’t give him much of an edge over some of the competitors, it will at least be a “definite benefit” in the practice room. He knows he’s going to have to put in some serious work in order to beat the current NFL stars.
“I’m sure Antonio can flat out move, Von appears to be the same,” Flutie says. “I know the competition will be very stiff.”
Should Flutie pull out another miracle by winning Dancing with the Stars, don’t expect him to challenge the always light-footed Rob Gronkowski to a dance off.
“I could not beat Gronk in a dance off because he’s just freestyling, doing what he’s doing. He has zero inhibitions,” Flutie says. “If you run up against somebody with zero inhibitions, you just don’t have a chance. No, Gronk wins.”
