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Last night Colts franchise QB Andrew Luck shocked the NFL world when he abruptly retired from football after being “mentally worn down” following years of injury and rehabbing.
Andrew Luck already has met with Colts’ owner Jim Irsay to tell him that he is retiring, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2019
Jacoby Brissett is Indianapolis’ new starting quarterback.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2019
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.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2019
Luck held an emotional impromptu press conference after the Colts-Bears preseason game to talk about his decision to retire.
"I know that I am unable to pour my heart and soul into this position. … it's sad, but I also have a lot of clarity in this."
Andrew Luck speaks on his retirement from the NFL. (via @rtv6) pic.twitter.com/cs5HAOQT2G
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 25, 2019
Andrew Luck got emotional while explaining why he's retiring. pic.twitter.com/CvymuNKyXk
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2019
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter the Colts will not pursue $24.8 milluon owed by Luck in signing bonuses and are allowing him to keep the money as a parting gift for all the years of service he had with the team.
Despite the fact that they could have recouped $24.8 million from their former QB, the Colts already have reached a financial settlement with Andrew Luck in which they will not take back any of the money they are owed, league sources tell ESPN.https://t.co/HPrU7xTowE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2019
Via ESPN
Luck could have owed the Colts $12.8 million as a pro-rated portion of the $32 million signing bonus the Colts gave him when he signed his five-year extension in 2016, and another $12 million in roster bonuses he was paid in March. But Indianapolis waived its right to recoup the money and is allowing Luck to keep it all, after the poundings he’s taken and all he’s given to the franchise. It is, in an official way, his parting gift.
Colts owner Jim Irsay, who tried to Luck out of retirement, seemed to understand why the QB was leaving the game.
It’s a tough thing, look it, he’s leaving $450 million on the table potentially,” \ “I mean, a half a billion dollars, and he’s saying, ‘You know what, I want to have my integrity. I have to be able to look (wide receiver) T.Y. (Hilton) in the eye, look my teammates, look coach, look (GM) Chris (Ballard) and say, I’m all in,’ and he just didn’t feel he could do that.”
This is real nice of the Colts considering how the Lions forced Calvin Johnson to pay back his $3 million signing bonus when he retired.
This speaks volumes. Generous move by the #Colts.
(The #Lions took Calvin Johnson’s signing bonus back when he retired. That relationship has been broken ever since.) https://t.co/rNAyDaKVai
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 25, 2019