Andrew Luck’s retirement remains one of the most impressive moments in recent NFL history. It was not an easy process for the man either.
Five years after the bizarre scene that occurred at an Indianapolis Colts preseason game, the former No. 1 draft pick reflected on the end of his career during an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.” Luck was recently named general manager of his alma mater Stanford’s football program and had a lot to say about his relationship with football.
Specifically, Luck was asked if he thought of himself as “a football player or a guy who was really good at football.”
The lucky answer:
“When I retired from the NFL, and I think I realized that talking to other people who have retired, I think no matter the circumstances, it’s difficult. Whether it’s after college, after a short career or after A long career is a difficult and challenging process.
“There was a period of grieving, and a period of grieving because a part of my identity died, and that part of me was a football player, and that was a huge, huge part of me. Certainly, I was more than just a soccer player.” , like everyone else… Of course, life goes on and daughters, 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 time he was 29 years old. Luck was known as one of the most intelligent and friendly players in the sport, and his decision to give it all up raised difficult questions about the sport. For his part, Luck made it clear that the decision was for his happiness.
The Colts were also considered to have failed to adequately support Luck over the years, a narrative the man himself firmly rejected 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’ve played with teammates who kicked ass, who were great, who worked hard. If I They hit a little early, it’s because of how I played, what I did and how I ran.”
Luck had remained largely silent during his retirement, making public appearances only when he felt like it, but that changed when Luck took the job at Stanford.
Now back in football, Luck is tasked with leading all aspects of Stanford alongside head coach Troy Taylor. In addition to supervising the football staff, Luck will handle more business aspects of the job, such as fundraising, sponsorships and alumni relations.