Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has decided to retire from the NFL at the age of 29. The retirement comes as a result of a string of injuries dating back to 2015. Luck will look to fix his health at home while the Colts look to keep their momentum going with Jacoby Brissett now leading the offense. Although Luck’s retirement is a shock to many, here are three reasons why Andrew Luck retired from the NFL.
Reasons Why Andrew Luck Retired From Football
1. Injury History
Andrew Luck’s injury history is a long list of injuries that have spread throughout his entire career. Luck has had serious issues with his shoulder since 2015 when he first sprained it in a game against the Tennessee Titans. He did not help himself by finishing the game with the injured shoulder, despite leading Indianapolis to a victory. He also suffered multiple abdominal injuries in 2015, including a lacerated kidney. Luck would avoid serious injury through 2016 but in 2017, his lingering shoulder issues would catch up to the quarterback and he had surgery on his shoulder.
Initially, the Colts believed it would not impact his ability to play in the upcoming season. Unfortunately, Luck missed the whole season after being placed on the injured reserve list in November 2017. Luck would not throw a football again until June 2018.
In August of 2018, Luck played his first game in nearly 600 days against the Seattle Seahawks. He played the 2018 season in full, going 10-6 and got voted into his fourth Pro Bowl, his first since 2014.
Luck then suffered a calf strain in his leg during the 2019 pre-season and that injury may have sent him off for good following his retirement from the NFL.
2. Financial Security
Money is not something that should concern Andrew Luck. Luck made roughly $97 million during his seven-year career and should be set for the rest of his life. He is leaving behind $58.1 million on his current contract, but his health has become such a glaring issue that he cannot avoid. The mental strain of suffering multiple serious injuries has made Luck chose retirement over finances. Luck will certainly maintain an income through other ventures during his time away from football and his career earnings will be sufficient for him going forward. Luck has no reason financially to risk his health any further. The Colts also decided not to recoup the $24.8 million owed to them by Luck following his retirement.
3. Colts Failure to Build Winner
The Colts failed to build Andrew Luck a true winner during his career. Now, unfortunately, their best roster since drafting Luck in 2012 will not see Luck a part of it.
This season looked like the year the Colts would have a true contender in the AFC. A reason being their efficient drafting over the past few off-seasons. Picks such as the Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, and Malik Hooker are great choices. The Colts biggest issue during Luck’s career has been the offensive line. A sub-par offensive line has been the cause of the constant pressure Luck was under during his early career when he suffered his lingering shoulder issue. Now, the Colts seem to have built a fantastic line but they will be protecting Jacoby Brissett this season instead of Luck.
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