Andrew Luck, the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback who shocked the NFL by walking away at 29, has revealed that he had big plans to continue playing until he was 40 or 45. In a new interview with Zak Keefer of The Athletic, Luck spoke about his early retirement and how it affected his career.
Luck’s decision to leave the game came after a series of injuries, including a lacerated kidney, torn labrum, multiple concussions, rib injuries, and various leg and ankle issues. These injuries took a toll on Luck, making him lose his love for the game.
Despite being a natural talent, Luck left football behind and has since returned to the sport as the general manager for Stanford. In the interview, he discussed his retirement from the NFL, revealing that he had always intended to play longer.
Luck’s decision to retire early led to a succession of quarterbacks trying to fill his shoes, including Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan. However, none have been able to replicate Luck’s success, with current quarterback Anthony Richardson facing stiff competition from Daniel Jones for the starting role.
In his seven seasons with the Colts, Luck achieved remarkable numbers, including 23,671 passing yards, 171 touchdowns, and four Pro Bowl selections. The team may still wonder what could have been if Luck had stayed as their franchise quarterback.
Luck has found a new passion in football through his work as Stanford’s general manager. In the interview, he discussed how he is now able to surround himself with the game he loves without any lingering feelings of regret or frustration from his early retirement.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/andrew-luck-makes-shocking-admission-early-nfl-retirement-2115048