Flowers announces retirement after nine NFL seasons

The Virginia Tech great was a two-time All-American and a 2013 Pro Bowl selection

August 8, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech legend Brandon Flowers (2005-07), known as one best and hardest-hitting defensive backs in the history of the program, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after nine seasons.

Flowers collected 21 career interceptions, including four that were returned for a touchdown, 111 passes defended, 429 tackles and 3.0 sacks in his career.

“No doubt, we’ve had several dynamic football players, particularly defensive backs, but Brandon Flowers has got to be in the top two three or four in that group,” associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bud Foster said. “He may not have been the biggest or the fastest guy but he was maybe one of the most complete football players we’ve ever had. A blue-collar Virginia Tech Lunch Pail D kind of guy!”

The Delray Beach, Florida native was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2008 after being selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by Kansas City. After earning a Pro Bowl berth with the Chiefs in 2013, he signed as a free agent with San Diego where he spent the 2014-16 seasons. In six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and three with the San Diego Chargers, Flowers appeared in 119 games and registered 117 starts.

Flowers became only the seventh Hokie to be named a two-time All-American when he was placed on the American Football Coaches Association first team after his junior season. He was also named second team by both The Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Flowers was a third-team AP honoree as a sophomore.

In 2007, he placed third on the team with 86 tackles from his secondary spot, adding eight tackles for loss in the process, and helped Virginia Tech capture the 2007 ACC championship. After leading the ACC in 2006 in passes broken up and passes defended, opponents shied away from him as a junior, but he still managed nine breakups, 14 passes defended and a career-high five interceptions.

More Foster on Flowers

“As far as a guy fundamentally sound, technique sound, great ball skills. Great understanding of his body positioning and when to flip his hips. Being a guy that probably wasn’t that fastest guy but like I said technique and fundamental wise may be the best we’ve had. Tremendous tackler, I remember his first game he ever played he got a Pick Six, that’s the kind of guy he was. Just a tremendous football player.”

On the effect that Brandon (Flowers) had on making Florida a pipeline state

“He was instrumental in all of that. Obviously that’s one of the things we sell is how we’re going to treat people when they are here. We’ve had several over the years, started with Loren Johnson and kind of led to Brandon which led up to Dadi Nicolas, Luther Maddy some other guys like that. So those guys they’re instrumental. Just knowing and talking to the guys about us and how we’re going to treat them and knowing it’s a family here.”

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