Doug Flutie went from end zone to out of his comfort zone when he joined Season 22 of “Dancing With the Stars.” But the former athlete managed to finally find his groove during Week 6 of the hit ABC competition, which, incidentally, happened to be the very same night that he was eliminated from the competition.

“It’s all out of my comfort zone,” Karina Smirnoff’s partner explained on “Good Morning America” the morning after his “DWTS” elimination. But the reason Doug thrived in the ballroom during his last night was because the Bollywood routine they performed wasn’t just foreign to him but it was also a brand new style for his professional partner to learn.

According to a blog post that Karina wrote for People magazine, the pro struggled severely during rehearsals — even having an anxiety attack while trying to teach Doug the ethnic routine.

“The hardest part is making sure all the moves and hand gestures are super clean,” Karina explained. “The hand gestures are the most important because if we are even a little bit off with them, we could make a gesture that is really offensive.”

However, regardless of their struggle, the two rocked the hip-shaking routine, earning a 21 out of 30 for their vibrant performance. But not even a synchronized dance could save the two from getting the ballroom boot. As “DWTS” co-host Tom Bergeron announced which couple was being sent home, the crowd roared in support for Doug.

“It was so heartwarming,” the football pro said on “GMA,” revealing that although he was a “nervous wreck” every time he stepped out onto the dance floor he felt confident knowing that he had the audience supporting him.

But the fans weren’t the only ones who had Doug's back! He revealed that it was Karina’s job to make him comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. “She did her job,” he said, adding that he no longer has to be dragged out onto the dance floor during events and parties.

Were you surprised to see Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff get eliminated? Sound off in the comments section below. “Dancing With the Stars” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.

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