Why did Andrew Luck retire? Former NFL QB opens up on unexpectedly calling it quits

Andrew Luck was tipped to be a massive success story after being the No. 1 overall pick at the 2012 NFL Draft. The quarterback was signed by the Indianapolis Colts but played only seven seasons with the team before hanging up his cleats in 2018.

Luck earned four Pro Bowl honors before retiring at 29. The quarterback maintained a rather private lifestyle since his retirement. But recently, he revealed the reason behind drawing curtains on his career and it wasn’t something that he hoped for.

Andrew Luck opens up on mental stress of playing football

While speaking to ESPN, Luck claimed that it wasn’t just the physical nature of the league that forced him to retire but it was also the mental toll that had been worrying him. He said, “To play quarterback, you’re not allowed to worry about anything except the task at hand. And that seeps into other areas of life. It’s not the healthiest way to live.”

Despite struggling with injuries in his final NFL season, Luck managed to throw 39 touchdown passes, led the Colts to the playoffs, and won NFL Comeback Player of the Year. But the off-field issues were more disturbing, according to Luck.

He added, “I regret the timing of when I retired. I felt like I let a lot of people down. There were some things that when I looked in the mirror, I did not like about myself. I was self-absorbed, withdrawn, in pain, and feeling the pressure.”

Luck eventually decided to spend more time with his family and two daughters, which eventually healed his mental well-being. He finished his NFL career with a total of 23,671 passing yards with 171 touchdowns in the air and 1,590 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns on the ground.

 

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