Indianapolis Colts receiver TY Hilton admits he turned to Andrew Luck for advice when he was contemplating the future of his career.
Wide receiver TY Hilton is back on the practice field for the Indianapolis Colts after a serious neck injury that required surgery sidelined him for the first five weeks of the 2021 season. Though his return this week against the Houston Texans is far from guaranteed, Hilton’s potential return to the offense will be a much-needed spark of hope for the 1-4 team.
Indianapolis is lucky to have Hilton back at all. The Pro Bowl receiver went through some dark days following his surgery, and considered retiring after nine seasons in the league. Luckily for the Colts, he consulted with his former quarterback before calling it quits.
The Indianapolis Colts have Andrew Luck to thank for talking TY Hilton out of retirement.
"I almost hung it up, I can't even lie... I talked to Andrew... that's probably the wrong thing to do." - TY Hilton, laughing. On how close he thought the end of his career may have been and how Andrew Luck helped. #Colts pic.twitter.com/mx5SDUuhgE
— Brett Bensley (@brettbensley) October 14, 2021
It’s hard to imagine how Hilton was feeling post-surgery, but the emotion in his voice when he revealed that he “almost hung it up” says everything you need to know about how much this sport and this team means to him. He’s been a cornerstone for Indianapolis throughout his career, and it would have been a heartbreaking end to such a meaningful journey if Hilton had walked away before this season had really gotten going.
Ironic laughs aside, the fact that Hilton entrusted Andrew Luck with the future of his career makes his decision to return even more impactful. Luck’s premature retirement devastated Indianapolis and fans throughout the league. No other words could weigh so heavily on the star receiver.
“Take your time with it,” Luck told Hilton.
And he did. After multiple discussions with Luck and his family, Hilton says he felt good about returning for the remainder of the 2021 season. In true Hilton fashion, he centered the conversation around his teammates and how much it meant to him that they supported his return. He went on to say that “bringing that smile to their face and just uplifting them” reassures him that he made the right choice.
Hilton is a true treasure for Indy, and Luck will be among thousands cheering him on when he finally gets back in the game.