I’m sure you saw the news yesterday, even though it was supposed to come out today. After just six seasons in the NFL, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, the former first-overall pick in the draft and widely considered to have been a generational prospect coming out of college, has decided to retire from the game.
He cited the multiple injuries that he has dealt with over the past four years, including a current ankle injury that is not healing with the sort of progress that was anticipated, as the motivating factor behind the stunning decision. The endless injury-pain-rehab cycle that has made up the past half-decade of his life, he said, had become too much, to the point where it was not allowing him to live the life he wants to lead.
Luck spoke to the media for over 20 minutes last night while wearing street clothes, because it was leaked that he would be announcing his retirement this afternoon. With it coming out during the Colts’ third preseason game, they had little choice but to throw it together last night.
In his impromptu retirement press conference, he was thoughtful, emotional, grateful, gracious, and patient. He understands that his decision will have a wide-ranging ripple effect in his community. He heard the boos as he exited the stadium. By now, he’s probably already aware of the burning jerseys.
It’s all a shame, I say. Luck made a decision for himself, and one that we should all be entitled to do. He made a decision based on his health and happiness, and in those areas, we deserve to be selfish. His retirement puts the Colts in a tough place—it’s a devastating loss, really—but he can’t make such a tremendous life decisions based on others.
It does make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 regular season schedule a touch easier, however, as they are slated to face the Colts in the second half of the season. Over the course of Luck’s career, Pittsburgh has gotten lucky, facing his backups multiple times. The only time he has played against the Steelers was during one of Ben Roethlisberger’s greatest moments, dominating Indianapolis’ secondary for 522 yards and six touchdowns.
Now they’ll go against Jacoby Brissett, who in 2017 went 14 for 24 against the Steelers for 222 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception in a loss, 20-17. He completed long 60- and 61-yard touchdowns to current wide receiver Donte Moncrief and Chester Rogers.
Over the course of his three-year career, Brissett has started 17 games, going 5-12. He has completed 213 of 528 passes for 3500 yards wit h13 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 336 yards and five touchdowns.
I already know what the comments section is going to look like. It’s going to be another Joshua Dobbs debate and whether or not the Steelers can trade him to the Colts to back up Dobbs, since he is a more comparable quarterback than their current projected backup, Chad Kelly. My response: don’t hold your breath.
