WATCH: “I still love the game…”- Former Colts QB Andrew Luck reveals he continues to have the urge to stay close to the sport of football despite being forced into an early retirement

Luck announced his retirement in 2019 at the age of 29.

WATCH: “I still love the game…”- Former Colts QB Andrew Luck reveals he continues to have the urge to stay close to the sport of football despite being forced into an early retirement

Andrew Luck (via IMAGO/Screengrab on X)

The Indianapolis Colts have faced struggles in finding a long-term quarterback for the team since the departure of Andrew Luck. The first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft provided seven years of stability in Indy but despite being a talented quarterback with immense potential, Luck sustained a lot of injuries during his career which ultimately led him to come to the tough decision to walk away from the game at the age of 29.

Andrew Luck continues to be affiliated with the Indianapolis Colts, while he had stayed away from directly engaging with the local media after the decision in 2019, the quarterback broke his silence recently by speaking with the media. The hottest question was if Luck still had the urge to return to the NFL.

YouTube video
When I retired, that part of it was put to bed in my mind...I certainly realize I still love this game, and I want to have it integrated in my life...I feel very fortunate to have been in the locker room here at Indy for those years...it's great, I get excited coming back to this building, I get excited seeing Colts stuff and the horseshoe and seeing familiar faces...it's always fun to come back here.
Andrew Luck said

Andrew Luck put the possibility of him returning to the Colts in the capacity of a quarterback to bed. However, he did admit that he loves the game and strives to stay around it in some capacity. He could have been indirectly expressing his desire to work with the Colts in the capacity of an assistant coach for QBs.

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Andrew Luck continues to be a respected figure in Indianapolis for his contributions to the team

The quarterback reminisced about his playing days in Indy and that he continues to miss the people in the building and to this date, cherishes the relationships he made in the locker room. Luck admitted that he felt a sense of happiness and excitement as he walked into that building. The biggest takeaway from his media appearance were his facial expressions. Luck is clearly leading a happier life and he is at peace with the decision that he took.

Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck (via Forbes)

When he walked off the field for the final time in 2019, Andrew Luck looked like a defeated man, a man who was at conflict with himself, a man who was not sure if he was doing the right thing by giving up the opportunity of a lifetime and walking away from a successful career in the NFL. It was sad to see Luck leave the field and even worse to see him receive boos from the crowd over a decision that he made in his best interest.

In retrospect, Andrew Luck did what many players are afraid to do, prioritize their physical and mental well-being over money and fame. Luck was mentally worn down as he had sustained back-to-back injuries that had left his entire body in shambles. He had a torn cartilage in two ribs, a torn abdomen, a lacerated kidney, a concussion, and a torn labrum. In his final season, he missed training camp owing to an ankle injury.

The quarterback made nearly $100 million over seven years but his decision to retire early may have resulted in him walking away from a total of $500 million in potential career earnings. As part of his retirement speech, Luck stated how the game he loved was no longer fun. 

I haven't been able to live the life I want to live. It's taken the joy out of this game...the only way forward for me is to remove myself from football. This is not an easy decision. It's the hardest decision of my life. But it's the right decision for me.
Andrew Luck added

Fast forward five years, Luck looks like a rejuvenated man, a man who is content and is indeed enjoying his best life.

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