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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Patrick Andres

Former No. 1 Draft Pick Andrew Luck Returns to Football World in Coaching Role

Colts quarterback Andrew Lucks abrupt retirement at the age of 29 in August 2019 stunned the football world. The four-time Pro Bowler seemingly walked away in his prime, leaving in the wake of a year where he threw 39 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.

Adding to the mysteriousness of Luck’s exit was the fact he gave virtually no interviews in the immediate aftermath, finally opening up to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham over three years later in December 2022. His break with football seemed to be complete in a way few former players can achieve.

At the time, Luck’s surprising retirement decision sent the NFL into a frenzy.

Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

However, per a profile published Thursday morning in The Mercury News, Luck is back around the game. The former Stanford quarterback is reportedly serving as an assistant coach at Palo Alto High School, a half-mile from Luck’s old Stanford Stadium stomping grounds.

“It’s great to have someone of that caliber on your staff,” Vikings coach Dave DeGeronimo told The Mercury News's Alex Simon. “The kids love it.”

Per Simon, Luck—who turned down an interview request for his story—is helping out two days a week while working on his master’s degree at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education.

Luck played for the Cardinal from 2009-11, finishing second in the Heisman voting in 2010 and 2011 while garnering acclaim as one of the best college quarterbacks of his generation.

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