Brandon Flowers Retires From the NFL

Virginia Tech has developed lots of talented defensive backs over the past two decades, helping VT earn the tag of being "DBU" due to the numerous DBs the Hokies have put in the NFL. Today, one of the most talented Virginia Tech DBs announced his retirement from the NFL. https://twitter.com/wyche89/status/894711225959018496 https://twitter.com/BFlowers24/status/894917563473211392 Former Pro Bowl and Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers announced his retirement after a nine-year NFL career. Flowers spent the first six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and last 3 with the now Los Angeles Chargers with it being likely that Flowers could have continued to play and possibly started somewhere if he didn't choose to retire. Flowers was one of the best cornerbacks in Virginia Tech history with 10 interceptions including 5 in his final season as a redshirt junior in 2007 along with 2 touchdowns and 158 career tackles including 17 tackles for loss. Flowers was a starter for the Hokies in 2006 and 2007, earning All-ACC First Team honors in 2006 and All-ACC Second Team honors in 2007 while also receiving All-American honors both years including First Team honors in 2007 from the AFCA. After his redshirt junior season, Flowers left Virginia Tech early being selected 35th overall (3rd pick of the 2nd round) by the Kansas City Chiefs. Flowers immediately established himself as a starter in Kansas City starting 87 of 88 games while in Kansas City with injuries limiting him to 30 starts in 31 games over three seasons with the Chargers. During his career, Flowers was always reliable on what was a strong secondary in Kansas City while helping improve the Chargers' secondary in his three-year stint in Southern California. Flowers ends his career with 21 interceptions, 111 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 3 sacks, and 429 total tackles including a career high 5 interceptions in 2009 and 4 seasons with at least 3 interceptions. Flowers also earned a selection to the Pro Bowl in 2013 in what turned out to be his final season in Kansas City. Flowers also signed 2 major contracts including a five-year, $50 million deal in Kansas City that included $22 million guaranteed in 2011 along with a four-year, $36 million in 2015 with the Chargers. Flowers suffered a concussion this past season, likely leading to the Chargers' decision to release him this offseason. Brandon Flowers was definitely one of the greatest cornerback in Virginia Tech program history and Bud Foster had high praise for him.

"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. 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."- Bud Foster on Brandon Flowers

Foster wasn't alone in his praise for Flowers. https://twitter.com/coachwiles/status/895002290561703936 There is no doubt that Flowers is one of the great Virginia Tech cornerbacks alongside guys like DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams while being one of the numerous DBs to help build Virginia Tech's reputation of being DBU while also being one of the best NFL players out of Virginia Tech in the 21st Century. Congrats to Brandon Flowers on a great nine-year NFL career.

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