ESPN: Andrew Luck's Retirement From NFL Comes at 29

The Indianapolis Colts are all out of Luck.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Andrew Luck has informed the Indianapolis Colts that he will be retiring from the NFL.

Luck, 29, has already met with Colts owner Jim Irsay and told him of his decision.

The former No. 1 pick, who has dealt with a number of injuries over his career and has not played this preseason, is “mentally worn down, and now checking out.”

Despite Luck’s injury history — he missed all of the 2017 season and has missed 26 games overall in his pro career — it’s still a shocking development and leaves the Colts with no choice other than to rely on backup Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback.

Apparently, this has been something Luck has been considering for quite some time.

Last August, Andrew Luck told me he considered walking away during the shoulder saga. It wore him down.

"There was an uncertainty, an apprehension. I was scared, scared in my core, in my insides. There was a time I was very scared about football, and about my place in football."

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019

One scene that sticks in my mind: Andrew Luck, exiting the locker room after the playoff loss in KC, with a huge smile on his face as he caught up with his fiancee. Asked him about it this spring, and his response is very telling tonight: pic.twitter.com/Wecqqa11LH

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019

Regardless, the Colts did not have an idea this was coming.

The faces of Colts’ staff outside the locker room right now tell the story: Shaking their head, speechless, absolutely stunned. This has rocked the franchise like a 100-ton crater.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019

Two Colts scouts were in the press box when the news broke. When we told them, their jaws just dropped. Had *no* idea.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 25, 2019

There will be a press conference Sunday where Luck is expected to formally announce he’s hanging up his spikes.

Indianapolis opens the season on September 8th on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.

With Luck sidelined in 2017, Brissett, 26, started 15 games, throwing for 3,098 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

— UPDATE —

Luck gave an impromptu press conference following Indianapolis’ game against the Bears.

“I’ve been stuck in this process,” Luck said. “I haven’t been able to live the life I want to live. It’s taken the joy out of this game … the only way forward for me is to remove myself from football. This is not an easy decision. It’s the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me.”

"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

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