In what has to be the biggest surprise this offseason, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck announced his retirement on Saturday night. Luck said that the injuries he has suffered over the years have taken away his love for the game.
The 29-year-old quarterback told reporters that he had met with Colts owner Jim Irsay earlier to tell him of the decision. It was not an easy decision.
“I’ve been stuck in this process,” Luck said, stopping several times to gather his emotions. “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 is the right decision for me.” What does this mean for Colts betting odds?
Luck, who was the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, took over as the franchise quarterback after the team released future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who went on to win a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.
He led the Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, including back-to-back AFC South titles and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game in 2014.
In 2015, he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3 and ended up missing 26 games, including the entire 2017 season. Last season, Luck threw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year and lead the Colts back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season.
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He suffered a calf strain that kept him out of the team’s offseason activities and minicamp and he took part in only three days of training camp before it was announced that he was shutting it down because he had difficulty moving in the pocket.
“I’m in pain; I’m still in pain,” he said. “It’s been four years of this pain, rehab cycle. It’s a myriad of issues — calf strain, posterior ankle impingement, high ankle sprain. Part of my journey going forward will be figuring out how to feel better.”
After Luck’s announcement, Irsay thanked him for his contributions to the Colts franchise.
“We have nothing but gratitude and thankfulness for the blood, sweat and tears he spilled as No. 12,” Irsay said. “Part of our heart is broken tonight. We know we must go forward.”
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