Andrew Luck’s retirement remains one of the most stunning moments in recent NFL history. It was also not an easy process for the man himself.
Five years after the bizarre scene that occurred during an Indianapolis Colts preseason game, the former No. 1 overall pick reflected on the end of his career during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.” Luck was recently named general manager of the football program at his alma mater of Stanford and had a lot to say about his relationship with football.
Specifically, Luck was asked whether he believed he was “a football player or a man who could play football very well.”
Happiness’s answer:
“When I retired from the NFL, and I think I’ve noticed talking to other people who have retired, I think no matter the circumstances, it’s hard. Whether it’s after college, after a short career or after a long career, it is a difficult and challenging process.
“There was a mourning period, and a grieving period because part of my identity died, and that part of me was a footballer, and that was a huge, huge part of me. Certainly, I was more than just a footballer, just like everyone else out there… Of course life goes on and daughters and family and other things start to fill that void, but you have to fill that void with something positive.”
Luck’s retirement will always be unique, and not just because of the timing when he was 29 years old. Luck was known as one of the smartest and kindest players in the sport, and his decision to give it all up raised tough questions about the sport. For his part, Luck made it quite clear that the decision was about his own happiness.
It was also widely believed that the Colts had not properly supported Luck over the years, a narrative that the man himself strongly pushed back on Tuesday:
“I never doubted the support I received from anyone in the Colts building, including how we built things and what we did. I know I played with teammates who were great people, who were great, who did their best .If I got beat up a little bit early, that’s because of how I played, what I did and how I ran around.”
Luck had remained largely silent after his retirement, appearing in public only when he felt like it, but that changed when Luck took the job at Stanford.
Now that he’s back in football, Luck is tasked with leading every aspect of Stanford alongside head coach Troy Taylor. In addition to overseeing the football staff, Luck will handle more business aspects of the job, such as fundraising, sponsorships and alumni relations.
