Andrew Luck Talks Shocking NFL Retirement, 'I’ll Always Have Guilt About How it Ended'

Former star quarterback Andrew Luck discussed his sudden retirement from the NFL as a 29-year-old in 2019.

“I’ll always have guilt about how it ended,” Luck told Zak Keefer of The Athletic. “I let my teammates down.”

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft didn't miss a game during his first three years with the Indianapolis Colts, but only appeared in 38 of a possible 64 regular-season contests over his final four seasons in Indianapolis as he was plagued by injuries.

"I fell out of love," Luck explained to Keefer.

He was stellar to open his Colts career, earning Pro Bowl nods in each of his first three seasons with the team. Luck averaged 269.9 passing yards per game and tossed 86 touchdowns compared to 43 interceptions over that span.

He helped lead Indianapolis to the playoffs in all three of those years, which included a trip to the AFC Championship Game during his 2014 campaign.

Luck missed time in 2015 with a lacerated kidney before he was sidelined for the entire 2017 season due to a labrum tear.

He experienced calf and ankle issues throughout training camp ahead of the 2022 season before announcing his decision to step away from the sport.

Luck eventually returned to Stanford, his alma mater, as general manager of the school's football program in Nov. 2024.

While he now scouts and calls season-ticket holders to renew while texting Stanford staffers throughout the day, he also occasionally takes some time to head to the practice field and run the team's offense for a few snaps (via Keefer).

Although Luck acknowledged that he still feels guilty about the end of his Colts tenure, he's fully embraced his new role with the Cardinal.