September 8th, 2019 – Phillip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers storm down the field for the winning touchdown in overtime ending a surprisingly close game 30-24.  For the Indianapolis Colts, coming into the season as one of the top ranked teams in the AFC South, the thought that a game against the solid, but certainly not outstanding Chargers, being “surprisingly” close is something that almost no one would have expected.  Now, Colts fans across the nation are questioning how they arrived in this position, 0-1 without their starting quarterback.

To get the full picture, we need to go back, way back … “With the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select, Andrew Luck, quarterback, Stanford.”  Coming off of a horrendous 2-14 season not aided by the fact that longtime quarterback and future hall of fame inductee Peyton Manning had completed the switch to the Denver Broncos the year prior, Indianapolis was desperately in need of some help.  Enter Andrew Luck.  Hailed as one of the top college prospects since Manning himself, Luck was a standout player in the NCAA and predicted by analysts as a consensus number one pick.  With their draft selection, the Colts ultimately decided to follow the hype, and hope that they had just cemented the next decade and beyond at the quarterback position.  Initially, this bet would be proven true.

The 2012 season marked a return to the Playoffs with the rookie quarterback leading the way.  Ending the regular season 11-5 was a powerful statement alone.  Although the team ultimately ended its bid for the Lombardi Trophy in the Wild Card round, the transition from laughing-stock of the league to perennial contender was cemented.

Over the next six years, Luck became one of the league’s top passers and was for the most part living up to the precedent set by Peyton Manning before him.  However, a job consisting of repeated impacts and physically demanding tasks is never destined to last forever.  With all of his individual heroics in game closing situations, Andrew Luck put his body on the line for his team and suffered the consequences.  Beginning in 2015 with a sprained shoulder, lacerated kidney, and partially torn abdominal muscle, and ending, this year, with a calf strain in March, Luck was sidelined for a significant part of his prime.  Regardless of his greatness over such a limited time, this generational talent of a quarterback was a victim to the harsh reality of professional sports.  Forced into retirement by a deteriorating physical condition.  The decision to retire for him came from the loss of passion for football caused by frequent rehabilitation and lingering pain that came with his unending list of injuries.

This retirement became one of the most fascinating moments in the ramp up to the 2019 NFL season.  Andrew Luck, one of the faces of the National Football League and a sports icon would no longer be playing.  This caused a divide in the sports community over how his decision to retire should be honored.  For the most part, the debate over what perspective this athlete should be viewed from focused on two central ideas.

1: Any person who has provided their field with such revolutionary performances and entertained a generation of fans should be celebrated for making the decision that is right for them in the moment.

2: Even with such a profound effect during a limited career, it is a responsibility as a captain and leader of a team to remain committed regardless of the personal sacrifice.

The first belief tends to be held by former players or those who have a very close tie to the game itself.  From their perspective, Andrew Luck has realized that his body cannot sustain this level of physical abuse for much longer and has decided it would be better to quit now than to risk serious injury that could be life altering.  For them, the risk strikes all too close to home, because they either are dealing with or have dealt with a similar decision themselves.

On the other hand, many Indianapolis Colts fans hold the second belief, evidenced by the collective “booing” as the news of Luck’s retirement broke during the preseason and he exited the field to a shower of scrutiny.  Early on in his latest contract extension, Luck appeared to be cashing in, with much of his predicted to be illustrious career ahead of him.  To the fans, they were losing part of the team’s identity, and more importantly their guarantee that a winning season was likely on the way.  A retiring starting quarterback means no guarantees, a rebuilding struggle, and possibly many years languishing in mediocrity.  For some readers, this will be seemingly just a part of the game and would tell the fans to just deal with it.  It must not be forgotten, however, that hard earned money and time have been invested by fans into this team.  To just walk out on all of this work and effort while still technically being fit enough to play another game is an insult to the franchise and a dishonoring of the player to fan trust and respect that is established over years of dedication.

To be fair, the departure that Andrew Luck received from the NFL feels harsh for a player of his caliber and a person of his character.  While I can see the merits of an argument for him to continue to play, I personally feel that however upset you may be over losing arguably the best player on the team, you must reflect on the memories and joy that this person has brought the fan base.  Yes, he was being paid millions of dollars to participate in an activity that he loved, but at the same time Luck was putting his livelihood on the line for our collective enjoyment.  And enjoyment it certainly was … whether it be the athletic prowess of avoiding the pass rush and making a sprint upfield or throwing 40 yard bombs to win the game, Andrew Luck provided the NFL with an excitement that no one but he could have imagined.  For this alone, I believe as a fan myself that we owe him respect in his decision and a send-off more befitting to one of the most talented players the sport has ever seen.

This retirement is one that will, in a number of years, most likely be forgotten, however it begs the question of how the public views professional athletes and entertainers.  Should we take these individuals, with, whether it be superior intellect, a gift for performing, or a talent that few others can match, for granted and allow ourselves to enjoy whatever it is they create for us?  Or, should they be given respect as a human being as well and attempted to be understood from a conventional standpoint?  Although it may be hard to envision these superstars as just normal people, I side with the latter in thinking that while we most certainly should enjoy the gifts that these lucky few have, we should never hold their decisions above what we would choose ourselves.  Respect needs to be given regardless of the situation.

To the Indianapolis Colts fans:

Try to place yourself in the same situation Andrew Luck was in.  Be upset over the fact that football has claimed the career of such a young talent.  Be upset that this team will most likely not achieve the heights it has over the past few seasons.  Be proud of what this human has brought to your life and continue to support the team.  Who knows how far they’ll go?

To Andrew Luck:

Congratulations on retirement!  It will be impossible for most of us to understand what you have been through, so have the courtesy of understanding that we come from a whole different realm of talents.  In time, you will be known not by this moment, but by the happiness, laughs, smiles, and most importantly the bragging rights you brought us.

Here’s to the best for your future endeavors.

Picture – https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2018/10/21/indianapolis-colts-seeing-andrew-luck-2-0-and-hes-smarter-than-ever-vs-buffalo-bills/1685679002/#/questions