Andrew Luck’s retirement shocks NFL: ‘Biggest holy s*** moment in sports in a while.’
There were probably double-takes all over the country Saturday night.
The moment ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted the news on Twitter at 8:29 p.m. that Andrew Luck was retiring from the NFL it shook the sports world. It’s one of the biggest surprises in recent sports history.
The news leaves the Indianapolis Colts without their quarterback two weeks before the season is set to begin. Luck, 29, is reportedly “mentally worn down and now has mentally checked out,” according to Schefter. There will be a press conference on Sunday to make it official.
Luck was on the sideline of the Colts’ preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Saturday night when the news broke. As he left the field after the game boos from fans could be heard.
Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones derided the booing from Colts’ fans in a post on Twitter, saying “This is truly disgusting.”
“He’s a helluva player, a helluva guy,” Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. “I respect him so much, on the field, off the field. That’s his decision. Everyone is entitled to that. I don’t think it’s fair for any of us to [have] any opinions about what he has going on. I wish him the best.”
Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith, who grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said he grew up watching Luck.
“I looked up to him. I’ve always been a fan since he got drafted by the Indianapolis Colts,” he said. “He’s a hell of a player. He’s had a great career. He’s making the best decision for him.”
The reaction on social media was a combination of stunned and disbelief.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett echoed the sentiments of many.
“It’s stunning to me,” Garrett said after the Cowboys’ 34-0 win over the Houston Texans. “He’s one of the great players and and great people in the National Football League. That really surprises me. I hold him in the the highest regard as a player and and a person and I wish him nothing but the best going forward.”
This story was originally published August 24, 2019 at 9:03 PM.
