Andrew Luck has been supported for a possible Hall of Fame induction.
In 2018, the former NFL quarterback shocked the world when he announced his retirement from the sport after just six seasons. Just 29 at the time, many were surprised given the number of years they felt he still had ahead of him.
Athletes who have such a short career tend to not be considered for Hall of Fame selection, but Fox Sports correspondent Colin Cowherd believes this should not apply to Luck. “Did you know Andrew Luck is eligible for the Hall of Fame next year? I know what you’re saying... ‘COLIN, C’MON, HE ONLY PLAYED FOR SIX YEARS!’, he said.
“Brevity of career does not eliminate you. Gale Sayers, four great years, made it, he had knee injuries. Terrell Davis, four great years. ‘WELL, SUPER BOWLS!’" Luck was the number one draft pick in the 2012 Draft and went on to make four Pro Bowl appearances, and was the league’s passing touchdowns leader in 2014.
He also holds the record for the most passing yards by a rookie quarterback with 4,374 and received the comeback player of the year award in 2018 when he returned to action after missing almost two years due to injury. As Cowherd continued to support his case for Luck being considered for the Hall of Fame, he made a comparison that involved reigning Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.
“Andrew Luck did something that I don’t think Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Favre, Bradshaw, or Aikman could do," he continued. "He took a horrible roster and went 11-5, 11-5, 11-5. Four Pro Bowls in five years, they never had a losing season when he was healthy, which is remarkable because according to PFF, the Andrew Luck era had the 28th best defense, the 24th best rushing game, and a bottom six offensive line, and he got the AFC Championship. I don’t think Mahomes could do that.”
“It’s not called the ‘Hall of Really Good For a Really Long Time’, it’s the Hall of FAME. Being ‘great’, that is who’s famous, all-time stuff.” At a press conference announcing his retirement in 2019, Luck cited the number of injuries he sustained and long periods of rehabilitation as the reasons for his shock decision.
“I've been stuck in this process. I haven't been able to live the life I want to live. It's taken the joy out of this game,” he said. “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.”
Back in May, the Washington Commanders reached out to the former player regarding a return to the sport, but they failed in their pursuit with Luck stating he has moved on from his life on the football field. “To play quarterback, you're not allowed to worry about anything except the task at hand," he said. "And that seeps into other areas of life. It's not the healthiest way to live.“
