Andrew Luck Responds to Eric Ebron's Comments Alleging Colts' Ballard Played Role in QB's Retirement

Last week, former NFL tight end Eric Ebron suggested on his podcast that general manager Chris Ballard essentially gave Andrew Luck an ultimatum to play in the 2019 season or the organization would move on from him.

Luck ultimately retired, but he refuted Ebron's version of events.

"Chris and I had a wonderful partnership, especially through my decision to retire, and we remain close," he told Mike Chappell of Fox59. "Any notion of internal pressures that influenced my decision are without merit."

Ebron had suggested that Ballard pressured Luck at the time.

"He's so tired of injury that he just doesn't want to do surgery," Ebron said of Luck. "You know who the man is around there that gets on everyone's nerves. (Ballard) over there behind that desk. He tells Andrew, 'You're either playing this year or we're moving on.' Who the (expletive) would tell Andrew Luck that, right? Andrew Luck now says, 'I'm not going to be ready, I'm tired of playing with pain. I'm going to retire.'"

Luck's retirement in 2019 shocked the NFL world. The four-time Pro Bowler was in the prime of his career and had just completed a season where he threw for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. But injuries took their toll.