Donald Trump dabbled in talking about football and the NFL during his recent Presidential campaign. He made visits to games between rallies, and sat down with NFL-centric podcasts and talked about things like his history with the game and sport itself.
But the President-Elect has had plenty of football in his past, though it may be a saga that he’s tried to forget.
Donald Trump Once Signed QB Doug Flutie To A 5-Year Contract
The United States Football League was founded in 1982. It was designed to challenge the NFL for superiority, and they did well in acquiring talent. Three straight Heisman Trophy winners signed with the USFL after college (Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, and Mike Rozier), and they were able to bring in names like Reggie White, Steve Young, and Jim Kelly.
Just before the league’s second year of existence, another big name was added, but this time off of the field. At the time a real estate magnate, Donald Trump bought in to the USFL in 1983, purchasing the New Jersey Generals a year after failing to purchase the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.
In order to make a big splash before the 1985 season, Trump decided to bring in one of the biggest, budding sports stars in the country. He was fresh off of his Heisman Trophy-winning season when Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie was drafted by Trump and the Generals. They decided to make him the highest paid professional football player and highest paid rookie in any sport by handing him a $7 million deal that spanned five years.
Other Owners Balked At Trump’s Request
And then Donald Trump attempted to get others to help foot the bill. Within two months of the Generals acquiring Flutie, he requested that other USFL owners help pay for parts of Flutie’s contract. He figured that more eyes on the league meant more revenue for everyone, thus, everyone should chip in and contribute to his star player.
Trump said initially that he had come to an agreement with the other owners on the situation, but admitted later that it was untrue.
Flutie didn’t last long with the Generals, and they didn’t last long themselves either. The QB had a completion percentage of under 50% and threw for 2,100 yards in 15 games, but suffered an injury late in his rookie season and lost the starting job. The franchise itself folded along with the rest of the league, as Flutie’s rookie season (1985) was the last time that the USFL ever took the field.
Another Failed Business Venture For Trump
For Donald Trump, it was one of his many failed business ventures. Though it happened in the mid-1980s, the story features many of the traits that make him the polarizing figure that he is today: a big financial swing, some glitz and glamour, an eventual bankruptcy, and even some lying for good measure. During his recent Presidential campaign, Trump said he never liked playing football much, and isn’t a fan of the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
Flutie played four underwhelming seasons in the NFL after his one year in the USFL. He spent the following 8 years in the Canadian Football League, where he won 3 championships and 6 MOP (MVP) awards. He then returned to the NFL for his final 8 seasons. Flutie retired at the age of 43.
