Colts: Sadly revisiting Andrew Luck retiring one year ago today

Emotionally revisiting the one-year anniversary of Andrew Luck’s retirement.

We hate to do this to you, Colts fans, but this story is still so relevant that it deserves to be discussed…especially today.

Exactly one year ago, the Indianapolis Colts organization was absolutely blindsided during a preseason game when it was reported that quarterback Andrew Luck decided to retire after just seven seasons in the NFL.

We were so numb to the pain and sheer shock that ensued from the news that we don’t even remember how word spread as quickly as it did. All we remember is the seismic uproar on social media and folks questioning if it was actually true.

What is permanently imprinted in our memories, however, is Luck getting boo’d as he walked off the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, where he was so often given standing ovations for keeping the franchise relevant as long as he did while working with an incompetent front office.

The way Luck seemed to scurry off the field surrounded by dozens of Colts staff and media members suggests that his decision was premeditated. We all knew that injuries were starting to take a toll on the 30-year-old from a physical standpoint. However, we never would have guessed the impact they were having on his mental health behind the scenes.

At the time of the announcement, Luck was sidelined due to a calf strain, but Indianapolis was confident that its superstar would be cleared to practice and have time to get up to speed with the rest of his teammates before the start of the regular season. Even if the ailment lingered, the worst-case scenario would have seen him miss a few contests. Looking back at it, that sounds utterly preposterous as Luck never played another snap in the NFL.

After boos rang down from the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd, the next thing we remember is the Colts calling a press conference, during which the former No. 1 overall pick would rationalize his earth-shattering decision.

As much as fans were upset with Luck for setting the organization back a few years, his words quickly made it clear that he no longer possessed the same fervor for the game he formerly lived and breathed. The exhausting grind of countless rehabs mentally drained the four-time Pro Bowler to the point where the gratification of getting back to the field just wasn’t worth it anymore.

How could you not respect his decision, which was obviously the toughest he had ever made in his life up until that point, to walk away?

The emotional wound from Luck’s retirement may never fully heal, but, as we did 12 months ago to the day, we wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.