59-Year-Old College Football Player

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In today’s edition…

He lived with a painful regret for 37 years.

Until a single question changed everything.

Here’s why a successful 59-year-old man decided to play college football.

Let’s dive in 👇

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The 59-Year-Old College Football Player Who Inspired a New Hollywood Film

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"Have you ever done something you would give anything to be able to change, or at least forget?"

"Something you rewind and replay a thousand times in your memory, and the awful ending is always the same?"

For Mike Flynt, that moment came after his tenth run-in in just three years of college.

The one that ended his dream and left a scar he'd carry for 37 years of his life.

That is, until one night, when a single question changed everything.

Born on July 26th, 1949, as the only son of a World War II veteran, Mike Flynt’s immense passion for sports came from his father, J.V.

During his time with the Permian Panthers (which you may recognize from Friday Night Lights), Mike was part of the high school’s first state championship team.

Given his accomplishments in a state known for its high school football, he received interest from several college programs.

But, blinded by love for his high school girlfriend, Flynt ultimately attended Ranger Junior College for one semester before moving on to then-Division II Sul Ross State in 1969.

As a member of the Lobos, he was named team captain as a junior and honored as an All-Conference linebacker.

"Mike was instrumental in keeping that team together," said teammate Randy Wilson. "He was a team leader."

Unfortunately, despite his success on the field, it was his actions off the field that led to his dismissal from the team and school.

"Fighting was something I was good at and actually enjoyed," Flynt wrote in his book.

After ten scuffles, including one with a freshman teammate, he was expelled ahead of his senior season.

"I never stopped thinking about the loss of that senior year," he said.

While he still finished his degree away from campus, his dream of completing his college football career came to an unfortunate end.

Or so he thought.

Mike worked various jobs, including as the strength and conditioning coach at the Universities of Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas A&M.

But the one thing that still ate away at him was his unfulfilled dream – his senior season of college football.

During a Sul Ross State reunion in 2007, Flynt and his former teammates reminisced about the old days.

Mike confessed that getting kicked off the team was the biggest regret of his life.

And despite being close to 60 years old, he believed he still had what it took to compete.

"I think it was Satchel Paige who used to say, 'How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?' I'd be in my late 20s or early 30s, because that's how I feel," Flynt said.

In his heart, he knew he could come back and play college football.

When Mike shared this sentiment with his teammates, the room erupted with laughter.

"A lot of baby boomers might make a statement like that after a few beers and not really mean it. But I was dead serious."

One teammate, Stan Williamson, just stared at him and asked a question that would change the course of Flynt's life:

“Well, why don’t you?"

Mike's mind raced. Could he actually do this?

He did, in fact, have a year of eligibility left. He was the same weight he was in college, and was in better shape than most of his peers.

As far as responsibilities, the timing was perfect.

Mike and his wife were about to become empty nesters, the business was in a good place, and they were already planning to sell their house and move.

After getting all of his ducks in a row, he sold his family on his crazy idea.

At the age of 59, with the support of his wife and children, Mike Flynt sold his house in Franklin, Tennessee, and made the 1,152-mile trek to West Texas.

He returned to Sul Ross State with one year of eligibility left and took a shot at finishing the story he'd left 37 years earlier.

"I might fail. I might even be embarrassed. But nothing could be worse than the pain and regret that I had suffered for the past thirty-six years."

"I had to try."

While he was still in relatively good shape from his years as a strength coach, Mike knew he wasn’t quite in elite football shape.

Sure, he could do 25 pull-ups and bench more than some of his younger teammates. But that wasn’t the same as the smash-mouth contact that takes place on the gridiron.

Despite the naysayers and doubt from many, and with help from Jerry Larned, one of his former coaches, Mike Flynt joined the 2007 Lobos team as a walk-on linebacker.

Having been away from the field for so long, Flynt faced various physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

He scrapped through grueling practices, demanding workouts, and skepticism from not only the public but numerous teammates.

Yet despite it all, Flynt’s determination, leadership, and passion for the game found him a place in the locker room.

Unfortunately, his triumphant return was put on hold as a groin injury and two bulging discs in his neck and back sidelined him for the beginning of the season.

But after weeks of rehab, he finally got his shot.

On October 13th, 2007, wearing his familiar number 49 jersey, Flynt entered the game to an eruption of cheers.

In a 45-42 triple overtime victory against Texas Lutheran, Flynt – supported by his wife Eileen, their three kids, and his grandson – lined up for nine snaps, including the game-winning field goal.

At 59 years old, he'd defied all odds and expectations of a man his age.

"I received that forgiveness that I needed to overcome the greatest regret in my life," Flynt said.

"I knew that I couldn't go back and undo what had been done. But I felt that if I could do something positive for someone else, and substitute that for what I'd done wrong, it would help me heal and move on."

Mike Flynt’s journey of personal redemption brought national attention, garnering TV interviews and guest speaking events.

After hanging up his cleats for the final time, Flynt has used his story to become a motivational speaker.

He tells his tale of perseverance, resilience, and the willingness to pursue your dreams no matter how far-fetched they may be.

"If I helped anyone out by what I did, then it was all worth it."

Flynt’s road to personal redemption opened the gates for other aging athletes to follow their dreams.

Tom Thompson II, at the age of 61, became the second-oldest football player in NCAA history as a placekicker for the Austin College Fighting ‘Roos.

That same year, Alan Moore, who was just months older than Thompson, claimed the record as he suited up for Faulkner University as their placekicker.

In 2008, Mike wrote a book called The Senior: My Amazing Year as a 59-Year-Old College Football Linebacker, which features a forward from LeBron James.

Now, the book was transformed into a feature-length film entitled The Senior – starring Michael Chiklis as Mike Flynt – and hits theaters on September 19th, 2025.

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee. If you enjoyed it, please share it with a friend.

Or, check out these related stories 👇

• The 5’9” Division III Walk-On Who Became an NFL Legend

• The Wild Stories Behind the 10 Oldest College Football Players of All-Time (Flynt is #3 🤯)

Thanks for reading!

We’re heading into one of the best stretches of the sports calendar: MLB playoff battles, NFL preseason hype, and all kinds of underdog stories unfolding before our very eyes.

What are you most excited about? Reply and let me know.

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: D) The stadium's loudspeaker. Per Retrosheet, “the ball hit the loudspeaker over fair territory and then caromed a long enough distance in the air to land in foul territory, which made it a foul ball by the Kingdome's ground rules. He then lined out to end the inning.”

⚾️ In case you missed it: Ed Latimore grew up in the projects, battled addiction, and rebuilt himself – brick by brick – inside and outside of the ring.

🍿 Watch the trailer for “The Senior” – inspired by Mike Flynt’s story – which hits theaters next month.

🏃‍♂️ He hated sports. Now he’s an MMA fighter training for the NYC Marathon.

☕️ If you’re in the market for an automatic espresso machine, why not buy it through my affiliate link?^*

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