In the prime of his career, at a mere 29 years of age, Andrew Luck stepped away from the game of football. As a life-long Colts fan, I had to write a post on Andrew Luck’s retirement. Like everyone else, I was shocked when I heard the news. The more I thought about it, however, the more it made sense.
From the perspective of a fan I’m saddened by the loss of such a special talent at such an inopportune time, and I’m angry at an incompetent front office that didn’t do enough to protect him early in his career.
From the perspective of a human being, I’m happy that Andrew Luck has chosen to live the kind of life that makes him happy. And I’m happy that he will be able to fully heal from the painful injuries that have plagued so much of his career.
The Career
Andrew Luck was drafted number one overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft. He joined a decimated roster severely lacking in talent, yet manged to drag the team to the playoffs with an 11-5 record. It was an impressive feat for any quarterback, let alone a rookie.
Filling the Big Shoes of the big forehead
He built on that success in the following seasons, eventually leading the Colts to the AFC Conference Championship game in 2014. Colts fans were accustomed to to heroic play from the quarterback position, yet Andrew Luck still managed to dazzle us with his comebacks and ability to mask over so many of the team’s weaknesses. His play reminded us of the legend whose shoes he was trying to fill.
Yet he had a persona and style all his own. He started a team book club, made awkward jokes at press conferences, and never totally fit the stereotypical franchise QB mold. He seemed to get more energized by big hits, and even complimented defenders after taking a big shot from them.
The COnstant Injuries
And he wasn’t short on opportunities. He was consistently near the top of the league in number of knockdowns (sacks + hits). His playing style combined with poor coaching and talent acquisition led to him taking more shots than he should have.
Eventually, those hits took their toll. Over six NFL seasons he suffered torn cartilage in his ribs, a partially torn abdomen, a lacerated kidney, a concussion, and a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Many thought that the shoulder injury would end his career for good. Amazingly, he managed to fully recover from it and lead the Colts to the playoffs once again, winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award in the process.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the long train of injuries. He suffered another one, this time a calf/ankle issue. He ultimately decided that the rehab cycle was no longer worth it. On August 24th, 2019 he announced his retirement from the NFL, two weeks before the start of the 2019 season.
The Retirement
The news broke to the world in a very unfortunate way. It was leaked on social media by Adam Schefter at the end of a Colts preseason game.
The Reaction
Luck walked off the field to a chorus of boos reigning down from the stands. Part of me understands where they are coming from. They didn’t know the circumstances surrounding the decision, and had such high expectations for the season. It’s also worth pointing out that anybody who stays for an entire preseason game is more likely than most to have a little too much alcohol in their system.
The Colts were a team on their way to the top, and now the fans had the rug pulled out from under them. Finding a franchise quarterback is no easy feat, and the Colts now find themselves searching for a new one. I think the boos were more of an emotional reaction to the situation than a judgement on Andrew Luck. Time and clarity softened most peoples’ reactions quite a bit.
Still, it was an ugly moment, and not a good look for Colts fans. They should have treated him better. Andrew Luck gave too much to Colts fans to warrant such a lousy send off.
The Reasoning
In the press conference after the game, Andrew Luck talked about the toll the unceasing stream of injuries and rehab had taken on his body and mind. It was sad to see our star player who once played the game with contagious energy talk about how his joy for playing football was gone. He said he promised himself that he would put his body first. He seemed at peace with his decision, and ready to move on with his life.
Colts fans aren’t quite there yet. Many hold out hope of a comeback. I’m pretty skeptical about that. He didn’t make this decision lightly, and I don’t think a course reversal is very likely. I’ve suffered some major injuries and surgeries myself, and I can tell you that the rehab process can be very isolating, even when you’re not a pro-athlete. It makes you really think about what your priorities are.
The Future of the Colts
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Colts. We just lost our most important player. Jacoby Brissett will be stepping into the starting role. He played the whole 2017 season in Lucks’ absence, and only recorded 13 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. Not exactly MVP material.
The Quarterback Position
However, I find a lot of room for optimism. In 2017 the Colts suffered a severe lack of talent and poor coaching. Jacoby Brissett joined the Colts only eight days before the season started. He had to learn a brand new playbook, yet still managed to beat out the other quarterbacks on the roster for the starting job. Now, after years of experience and learning from Luck, he takes the helm of a team with much better talent and coaching. He could surprise some people.
Good Coaching
Frank Reich was able to win a Super Bowl as the coach of the Eagles with a backup quarterback. Maybe he still has some of that magic left. I think he will be able to design plays that showcase Jacoby’s strengths.
It also doesn’t hurt that the Colts play in a pretty weak division and have a solid defense. I think they still have a good shot at winning their division.
In Ballard We Trust
We also have somebody who I think is one of the best general managers in the league in Chris Ballard. This team will be okay as long as he keeps finding talent. I just wish he could have arrived here sooner before Luck had to suffer so much.
Conclusion
Andrew Luck’s retirement was a reminder that nothing lasts forever. It will always be a “what could have been” story in the minds of Colts fans. He will also be remembered as an amazing player and all-around class act. I wish he could have played longer, but I’m grateful for the time he spent in Indianapolis.
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