By Brian Kopycinski
The Pitt Panthers teams of the late 1970s through the early 1980s were among the best in the country, featuring many future Pro Football Hall of Fame talents. Arguably the greatest stretch in program history, this era of Pitt football brought championships and lasting memories. While many of its stars have been inducted into Canton, others went on to have meaningful NFL careers but have not received the recognition they deserve. One such player is Tom Flynn, a four-year starter at safety who made big plays and set records. A graduate of Penn Hills, the Pittsburgh-area native played five NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants, winning a Super Bowl with New York in 1986.
Flynn was a dual-threat, left-handed quarterback for the Penn Hills Indians and a teammate of Pitt great Bill Fralic. Together, they won four consecutive state championships. As a senior, Flynn threw for 1,100 yards and rushed for 700. For his efforts, he was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s AAA Player of the Year in 1979. In addition to football, Flynn participated in baseball, basketball, and track and field year-round. Recruited by several notable programs, he committed to Pitt as a safety, believing the position would give him the best chance to reach the NFL. Flynn began his collegiate career as the starting free safety on Jackie Sherrill’s 1980 Panthers team. Led by Dan Marino, Pitt finished 11–1, defeating South Carolina in the Gator Bowl.
In his sophomore season, Flynn led the team in both tackles and interceptions. One highlight came on October 17 at Pitt Stadium, when he returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown in a 42–14 victory over Florida State. He recorded a career-high four interceptions that season. Pitt again finished 11–1, defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and capping off another championship-caliber season. Over the next two seasons, Pitt remained one of the top teams in the nation, appearing in the Cotton Bowl in 1982 and the Fiesta Bowl in 1983. Flynn once again led the Panthers in tackles both seasons. As a senior, he briefly took reps at quarterback during spring practice amid uncertainty at the position. He finished his Pitt career as the program’s all-time leader in punt return yardage (923 yards, 2 touchdowns). During his time at Pitt, he also met his future wife, Kris, a nursing student. Flynn was later selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1984 NFL Draft.
Flynn had an outstanding rookie season in 1984. He led the NFC with nine interceptions while starting 15 of 16 games. He also contributed on special teams, returning 15 punts for 128 yards. Flynn tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with three as the Packers went 8–8 under new head coach Forrest Gregg, who replaced Bart Starr. He also led the team with 72 solo tackles and was named Pro Football Weekly’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. After such a strong debut, Flynn appeared to be on track for an elite career. However, the 1985 season marked a step back. Although he started 15 games, he recorded just one interception as the Packers again finished 8–8, trailing the eventual champion Chicago Bears.
The year 1986 proved pivotal in Flynn’s life. He married Kris on June 14 and, by season’s end, would earn a Super Bowl ring. After starting six of the first seven games with Green Bay, Flynn was released in mid-October as the team began to rebuild. Despite recording an interception earlier in the season, the Packers no longer viewed him as part of their long-term plans. After working out for several teams, including the Giants, Flynn returned home to Pittsburgh and played flag football for a Penn Hills team sponsored by Hippo’s Pub. Still, he believed his NFL career was not over.
That opportunity came quickly. In Week 8, after Giants safety Terry Kinnard suffered a knee injury, Flynn received a call and headed to New York. The Giants, now 6–2, signed him as a backup to Herb Welch. They won their next seven games and entered Week 16 with a chance to secure home-field advantage. Their opponent was the Green Bay Packers.
In just his second game with the Giants, Flynn made the most memorable play of his professional career against his former team. Early in the game, while lined up on the punt return unit, he broke through and blocked a punt by Bill Renner, returning it 35 yards for a touchdown (his only NFL score). The Giants went on to win 55–24. It was a full-circle moment, as Flynn once again delivered in a big spot. The play was later named Special Teams Play of the Year by The NFL Today. New York cruised through the playoffs and captured its first championship since 1956 with a victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI.
Flynn spent two more seasons with the Giants as a reserve before being released after the 1988 season at age 26. Although he received an offer from the Detroit Lions, he chose to retire and focus on life after football. Over his career, Flynn accumulated 21 Approximate Value, a metric similar to baseball’s Wins Above Replacement. He recorded 11 interceptions, forced two fumbles, recovered four fumbles, and totaled 309 all-purpose yards on special teams. His defining moment came against the team that had released him, a play that helped propel the Giants toward a championship. More than anything, Flynn was a champion. Today, he serves as a vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate investment firm. He and his wife, Kris, reside in Murrysville and have four children, Zach, Jake, Jillian, and Zane.