It’s just started, but this season of football is a strange one! It started off when one of the NFL’s biggest stars, Andrew Luck, decided to retire before the season even started! While many applauded the health-conscious decision, others wondered how much Luck lost by retiring…
Why Retire?
Colts player Andrew Luck remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in football history. However, after turning 30 this year, he decided to take a step back and relax. The move surprised many Colts fans, even though Luck’s been dealing with a lot over the past few years, including a torn cartilage in 2 ribs, a partially torn abdomen, a lacerated kidney, and multiple concussions. “I’ve been stuck in this process. I haven’t been able to live the life I want to live. It’s taken the joy out of this game … the only way forward for me is to remove myself from football,” he said. For sure, when the game becomes more dangerous than fun, its time to take a break.
“I’m in pain, I’m still in pain. It’s been four years of this pain, rehab cycle,” Luck said. “It’s a myriad of issues — calf strain, posterior ankle impingement, high ankle sprain. Part of my journey going forward will be figuring out how to feel better,” the football player finished. Some fans took that last sentence to heart, hoping it hinted at a possible return…
About A Potential Comeback
With Luck’s “figuring out how to feel better” line, some wondered if he was leaving a chance at a comeback. Of course, journalists immediately asked the Colts owner Jim Irsay about the future of the NFL superstar. Yet, he seemed as unsure as everyone else! “This is an unusual situation. I mean, we see Tiger Woods come back and win the Masters. We see different things, Michael Jordan retire and unretire. In this case, we just wish him the best, and maybe that he finds some clarity, and maybe – he’s just gonna be 30 years old late next summer…” he said.
In the end, Irsay refused to give a straight answer. However, he made one thing clear: anything is possible. “You know, I don’t rule it out. Because as quickly as this thing sort of descended on us, and as mysterious as it was coming upon us, it could leave the same way. … I would say it’s possible.”
The Colts Vs Andrew Luck
So, just how much money will Andrew Luck lose by leaving the Colts? Well, the team’s management wanted to keep things friendly, likely to leave the door open for a return. So, the Colts let Luck keep his $25 million paycheck for this year, despite leaving before the contract ended. Of course, the player likely didn’t need the extra cash, as Lucky earned over $100 million throughout his career. Still, it shows that the team supports him, which means a lot to both Luck and fans.
However, this doesn’t mean that Luck didn’t lose any money. Before his retirement, Luck was one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, and it looked as though his salary would continue to increase. Some experts say Luck walked out on nearly $200 million by retiring early. But for the player, it doesn’t matter – his health is worth much more to him.
While Luck made the hardest decision in his life, it’s definitely the best for his health. We wish him a quick and nice recovery!
Sources: Business Insider, CNBC