Former New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie said that both of his parents died Wednesday in Florida within an hour of each other.
The NFL veteran made the announcement via Facebook, writing that his father Dick, and mother, Joan, both suffered fatal heart attacks, and died "less than an hour" apart.
Flutie wrote on Facebook: ''They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it.''
"My Dad had been ill and died of a heart attack in the hospital and my Mom, less than an hour later had a sudden heart attack and passed away," Flutie's Facebook post read.
"I would like to honor my parents for all that they did throughout my and my brothers’ and sister’s lives. My parents were always there for their children, from the days my Dad coached us as kids and my Mom would work the concession stands, through to this morning," the 1984 Heisman trophy winner wrote.
Flutie called them ''incredible parents and grandparents'' who had been married for 56 years.
"I will miss them both. On behalf of me and the entire Flutie family, I would like to thank you all for your well wishes and prayers during this difficult time," he wrote.