Eric Ebron Alleges Colts GM’s Ultimatum Played Role in Andrew Luck’s Retirement

Former Colts TE Eric Ebron alleged that GM Chris Ballard’s insistence on Andrew Luck playing in Week 1 of the 2019 season, despite his injury recovery, contributed to his decision to retire.

Eric Ebron Alleges Colts GM’s Ultimatum Played Role in Andrew Luck’s Retirement

Andrew Luck and Eric Ebron inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/YouTube)

In Short
  • Eric Ebron claims Colts GM Chris Ballard gave Andrew Luck an ultimatum that contributed to Luck's retirement.
  • Ebron experienced similar pressure from Ballard, who urged him to play despite a serious ankle injury.
  • After retiring, Luck returned to Stanford, became GM, and made significant changes to the football program.

Eric Ebron‘s numbers skyrocketed after the Indianapolis Colts paired him with quarterback Andrew Luck in 2018. Ebron caught 66 passes for 750 yards and scored a staggering 13 touchdowns. The Colts went 10-6 and reached the divisional playoff final, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ebron received his first Pro Bowl call-up while Luck bagged his fourth, including a Comeback Player of the Year award. The following year, the Colts were the team to beat in the AFC until Luck suddenly retired. As a result, the Colts missed the playoffs and won just seven games all year.

After the 2019 season, Ebron’s contract expired, and the Colts chose to part ways with him. He played two more years in the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers before officially retiring in 2024. The 32-year-old North Carolina graduate recently shared a previously untold story about Luck’s retirement.

Ebron mentioned that Luck had a tough time regaining full fitness before the 2019 offseason. Two years after his shoulder surgery, Luck carried a calf injury throughout the training camp. To further complicate matters, he sustained a high ankle sprain during the preseason.

Even though the Colts had Jacoby Brissett as a backup on the roster, the only way they could have made it to the Super Bowl again was if Luck played. And it’s not a knock on Brissett, but the reality of the situation.

However, the frequent injuries had begun to weigh heavily on Luck, both physically and psychologically. Ebron claimed that Luck told the Colts’ third-year general manager, Chris Ballard, that he was not ready to play in week one. According to Ebron, instead of sympathizing with his quarterback, Ballard gave Luck an ultimatum.

Andrew then decides that he’s so tired… of injury, he just does not wanna do surgery. You know who the man is around there who gets on everybody’s nerves… Big [dawgs] behind that desk. He tells Andrew, “You’re either playing this year, or we are moving on!!!” Who the [expletive] would tell Andrew Luck that? Right? Andrew Luck now says, “I am not gonna be ready. I am tired of more pain, I retire.

Eric Ebron said on the YouTube show “On MY Soul”

Ebron claimed he experienced similar treatment from Ballard, who urged him to play despite knowing he had a ruptured ankle. The 32-year-old played through the pain. In 2024, he called out Ballard, claiming he’s the worst GM in the league.

What is Andrew Luck doing in retirement?

After hanging up his boots, Luck returned to his alma mater, Stanford University, and completed his master’s in architectural design. In November 2024, the Stanford Cardinals appointed their former quarterback as the new general manager.

Eric Ebron Alleges Colts GM’s Ultimatum Played Role in Andrew Luck's Retirement
Andrew Luck (Image via IMAGO)

Luck’s first action as GM was letting go of head coach Troy Taylor after two investigations uncovered inappropriate conduct toward female staff members. He then appointed Frank Reich, his former head coach at the Colts, to manage the Cardinals on an interim basis.

We want to write our own story. But it’s going to require a bit of a different flavor to succeed in this… We’ve been given a blank canvas here. How cool is that to be able to create the job and the structure with your vision?

Luck said (H/T: USA Today)

The Cardinal went 4–8 in Luck’s first full season as general manager. In the meantime, he helped the program secure $100 million through a fundraiser. Recently, Luck hired Tavita Pritchard as the new head coach after interviewing close to 30 candidates.

Stanford opens the 2026 college football season with back-to-back home games. In week one, the Cardinals host Hawaii before welcoming last year’s CFP finalists, the Miami Hurricanes.

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