It’s been 2,594 days since Andrew Luck walked away from the NFL, a period that’s actually longer than his entire 2,540-day playing career from debut to retirement. You’d think with that much time, maybe a guy would start to have second thoughts, especially seeing other legends eye comebacks, but Luck, now just 37 years old and general manager of Stanford’s football program, is still rock solid on his decision. “Nope,” he told Yahoo Sports Daily this week when asked if he had any regrets. And honestly, for a guy who stepped away because of an “unrelenting cycle of injuries and rehab,” you gotta respect that conviction.
The “Nope” Heard ‘Round the League
That “Nope” isn’t just a casual dismissal, either. Luck called it the “hardest decision of my life probably up until that point, and maybe since as well.” But for him, it was “exactly what needed to happen for me.” Think about it: Kirk Cousins, who was drafted in 2012 just like Luck, is 38 and leading the Raiders to a 3-0 start right now. Matthew Stafford, a year older than Luck, just snagged his first MVP last season. These guys are still balling at a high level. Yet, Luck just isn’t interested in what “might have been.” He’s content letting everyone else speculate while he focuses on his work at Stanford, seemingly totally at peace with his choice.
The Comeback That Wasn’t (For Him)
For a few years after he hung up his cleats, it felt like every time a quarterback went down, fans immediately projected a Luck comeback. It was a whole pastime, right? But that comeback never materialized. And it’s not like other QBs haven’t felt the itch. Philip Rivers was coaching high school ball when he came back to play for the Indianapolis Colts late last season. Drew Brees even thought about suiting up for the Broncos last season after they lost Bo Nix to injury before the AFC championship game, texting his old Saints assistants. But Luck? Nah. He’s got an “amazing relationship” with Colts GM Chris Ballard, calling him a mentor, and the two are clearly “on the same page” about Luck staying retired. Fun fact, though: Luck was actually at a 49ers game with Stanford head coach Tavita Pritchard, watching Rivers’ first game back since 2020, and was so “fascinated” by Rivers playing at a high level, even as a grandfather, that he was watching the Colts play *our very own Seahawks* on his iPhone. Even when the action was right there, he was still tuned into the NFL, just from a different perspective.
Luck’s journey is a rare one in pro sports, walking away from the game on his own terms and never looking back. He’s exactly where he wants to be, and that’s a kind of victory all its own.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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