The NFL community were in for a shock in the 2019-20 offseason, courtesy the Indianapolis Colts. As it turns out, star quarterback Andrew Luck announced that he will retire from the NFL. On Sunday, Luck held a press conference where the 29-year-old tearfully announced his decision.
The main reason behind the decision was the number of injuries he suffered in the past few seasons. He revealed that said injuries took a major toll on his psyche, hence the sudden decision.
“I felt stuck and the only way out of it is to no longer play football,” Luck said. “It’s taken my joy away from the game.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Andrew Luck was crying, this is probably the hardest decision he made in his life.
"This is the greatest team sport in the world."pic.twitter.com/T4Zb2XNNrO
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 25, 2019
Speaking to the press, Andrew Luck was reduced to tears, as the gravity of the situation dawned on him. In fact, he called it the hardest moment of his life. He dubbed former teammate Robert Mathis as the best teammate he ever had. In addition to that he called Jacoby Brissett “an awesome dude with a bright future”.
He confessed that he had to pinch himself last season due to how much fun it was to play for Colts coach Frank Reich.
During his 7-season tenure in the NFL, Andrew Luck had been besieged by injury, with the most recent one being a lingering calf issue. He also combatted rib and shoulder issues in 2015 and 2016, then sat out the entire 2017 season after an offseason shoulder surgery. Luck returned in 2018 and, after a slow start, looked very much like his former self for much of the year.
The #Colts have known that QB Andrew Luck was seriously mulling retiring for at least two weeks. He’s married, he plans to travel the world, and once the love for the game waned, it sounds like he wanted to step away. So, he did.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2019
The calf issue cropped up during the offseason, but the Colts were confident that Luck would return on the field soon. Luck often lived up to his reputation as a star quarterback, as others came up short of that status. In his prime, he was an electric talent who could make any throw on the field and use his legs to create plays outside the pocket and down the field.
In the wake of Luck’s retirement, the Colts’ will have to rely on Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback. Unfortunately, things look bleak for the Colts without Andrew Luck in the mix. Luck wraps up a glittering career with 23,671 passing yards, 171 touchdowns, and 83 interceptions, as well as a 53-33 record as a starter and four Pro Bowl appearances, including last year.
Physical toll on Andrew Luck through 6 NFL seasons:
» Torn cartilage in 2 ribs
» partially torn abdomen
» a lacerated kidney that left him peeing blood
» at least 1 concussion
» a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder
» and this mysterious calf/ankle issue that led to this— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019
The 2018 season was perhaps Luck’s best yet, as he completed 67 percent of his passes while setting career highs in passing yards, quarterback rating, and QBR. His 39 touchdown passes were also one off the career high he set in 2014.
Despite that performance, his decision to retire was not entirely unpredictable. Outlook on the calf injury had been muddled by seemingly contradictory comments from team officials in recent weeks, and Saturday night reports indicate the Colts were not stunned by the turn.
And Andrew Luck’s replacement backed up Tom Brady…. https://t.co/vLAonliZta
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2019
Once billed as the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning, Luck eventually was the reason the Colts franchise moved on from the legendary passer. After Manning missed the entire 2011 season due to injury, the Colts landed the No. 1 pick and elected to take Luck and waive Manning.
