Colts' Andrew Luck Retires from NFL in Shocking Announcement

Kyle Newport @@KyleNewportFeatured ColumnistAugust 25, 2019

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 18: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts waves to the crowd after a victory against the Tennesse Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck announced his retirement from the NFL in a press conference Saturday night:

Indianapolis Colts @Colts
Andrew Luck announces his retirement from the @NFL. https://t.co/PK9ADYBuOX

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported Luck was retiring due to mental fatigue.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the franchise was aware the 29-year-old was contemplating retirement:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
The #Colts have known that QB Andrew Luck was seriously mulling retiring for at least two weeks. He’s married, he plans to travel the world, and once the love for the game waned, it sounds like he wanted to step away. So, he did.

Luck had three seasons remaining on the six-year, $140 million deal he signed in June 2016. He was set to make $9.1 million in 2019, per Over the Cap.

Darren Rovell @darrenrovell
In retiring, I have Andrew Luck giving up $58.1 million in future money.

Selected out of Stanford in 2012, Luck quickly established himself as one of the league's top passers. He took over a team that went 2-14 and led it to three consecutive postseason berths, reaching the AFC Championship Game after the 2014 season.

Unfortunately for him, the 6'4", 240-pound star's body took a pounding early in his career. He was sacked 100 times through his first three seasons—and those hits took their toll.

Luck played just seven games in 2015 as he dealt with a lacerated kidney. He missed the 2017 campaign after he suffered a torn labrum and a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder.

He returned for the 2018 season and played in all 16 games. Despite not playing in an NFL contest in 18 months, he showed minimal rust. He set career highs in completion percentage (67.3) and yards (4,593) while coming within one touchdown (39) of tying his previous best.

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Meanwhile, he led the Colts to a 10-6 record and a wild-card berth. Indianapolis beat the AFC South champion Houston Texans in the first round before it fell to the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.

That performance helped him capture the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Andrew Luck is retiring after seven seasons: 🔹 2012 No. 1 overall NFL draft pick 🔹 171 touchdown passes 🔹 23,671 yards 🔹 4 Pro Bowls 🔹 2018 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year 🔹 53-33 record Made the most of his time in the NFL 🙏 (🏈 @brgridiron) https://t.co/nYn8R2dhaX

Injuries, though, have once again popped up. Luck was held out of spring workouts because of a setback described as a calf strain. That was later reclassified as a high-ankle issue. He had not appeared in any preseason games.

Zak Keefer @zkeefer
Physical toll on Andrew Luck through 6 NFL seasons: » Torn cartilage in 2 ribs » partially torn abdomen » a lacerated kidney that left him peeing blood » at least 1 concussion » a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder » and this mysterious calf/ankle issue that led to this

With Luck's retirement, Indianapolis will likely turn to Jacoby Brissett under center. The 2016 third-round pick filled in for Luck in 2017 after being acquired from the New England Patriots a week before the season started. He went 4-11 in 15 starts while completing 58.8 percent of his passes for 3,098 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The 26-year-old has made 17 starts in his three NFL seasons.