In August, Andrew Luck shocked the sports world by retiring from the NFL and the Indianapolis Colts at 29 years old. Months later, the Colts are feeling the repercussions of losing their passing protégé and MVP candidate.
Luck's backup Jacoby Brissett has simmered down since a hot start in the wake of the stunning retirement. In 13 games, he has 2,661 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions on a 62.3% completion rate. The Colts are 6-8 and well out of the playoff hunt.
Is there any hope that Luck comes back and saves the day?
“Going into the offseason, we have to proceed as if Andrew is officially retired,” owner Jim Irsay recently said, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. “So that's how we operate now.”
Irsay noted that Luck donated his Colts suite to Riley Hospital for Children, a local hospital where he would visit sick children throughout his time in Indianapolis.
Luck's stunning retirement came off the heels of injuries taking a toll on his physical and mental health. Though one of the most talented passers of the 2010s, he ultimately found he could not handle the rigors of the NFL if not at 100%.
So here we are. The Colts are without Luck, out of the playoffs and could be entering a monumental offseason. Despite so, Irsay and Co. are staying the course, proud of a team that bounced back from the retirement.
“From an organization standpoint, no one is going to have a pity party for us,” Irsay said. “We had injuries and then Andrew and different things, but we're still fighting in there. So I'm proud of the guys.”
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