3. Andrew Luck (2012)
It pains Colts fans to bring up Andrew Luck, but he’s one of the best in franchise history.
Andrew Luck was considered to be as sure a bet as any to be a star quarterback in the NFL when he entered the 2012 NFL Draft, and the Coast chose to hitch their post-Peyton wagon to the Stanford star.
He immediately showed that he was as good as advertised, making the Pro Bowl in each of his first three pro seasons while leading the NFL in passing touchdowns with 39 in 2014. Luck’s 240-pound frame combined with an ability to make plays with his legs, a sublime ability to diagnose what the defense is doing, and otherworldly arm talent helped make him an impact player from his first game.
Unfortunately, Luck is remembered for injuries clipping his wings. He made just seven starts in 2015 and missed the entire 2017 season due to shoulder injuries and kidney lacerations. Luck threw for 39 touchdowns in his first season under head coach Frank Reich, but his success wouldn’t be sustained. He retired before the 2019 season.
Luck was a magnificent player who elevated some bad Colts teams and coaching to the postseason with regularity. Ultimately, like Jones before him, Luck’s body failed him. While he was more productive in his short stint as a starter than Jones, as proven by his four Pro Bowls, Luck could’ve been an all-time great if he hung on for a little longer.