The Senior is more than just a sports film — it’s a powerful testament to courage, redemption, and the idea that it’s never too late to finish what life started. The movie tells the true story of Mike Flynt, a man who chased an unfinished dream nearly 40 years after it began.

Who Is Mike Flynt?

Mike Flynt was a standout high school linebacker in Odessa, Texas — part of the Permian High School team that won the state championship in 1965. He went on to play linebacker at Sul Ross State University and served as team captain, but his college football career ended abruptly before his senior season due to off-field trouble and disciplinary issues. That loss weighed on him for decades.

The Comeback at 59

In 2007, at 59 years old, Flynt did something almost no one believed he would: he returned to Sul Ross State to finish his college football career. A chance conversation with old teammates at a reunion challenged him to act on his regrets. After confirming he was still technically eligible, he walked on to the team, becoming one of the oldest college football players in NCAA history.

Instead of glory, his comeback was about redemption, grit, and purpose — proving age is no barrier to pursuing unfinished dreams.

From Real Life to the Big Screen

The film The Senior, directed by Rod Lurie and starring Michael Chiklis as Mike Flynt (with Mary Stuart Masterson as his wife Eileen), dramatizes this remarkable journey. At its heart, the story isn’t just about football — it’s about integrity, reconciliation, and family (themes that echo strongly if you watch the video about Mike’s story).

Through both heart-pounding gridiron scenes and quieter, emotional moments, The Senior invites audiences to reflect on:

• What we would do for a second chance
• The courage it takes to make peace with the past
• How community, family, and faith can fuel a comeback

The tagline — it’s hard to believe it’s a true story — isn’t just a marketing line. It’s a challenge to every one of us: What dream have you set aside that’s still waiting to be pursued?

David Almgren – Two Pastors, Popcorn and a Movie Podcast