History of Andrew Luck in Timeline

Andrew Luck is an American football executive and former NFL quarterback. He achieved significant recognition during his collegiate career at Stanford, winning several prestigious awards. The Indianapolis Colts selected him first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. After playing seven seasons, Luck retired and later became the general manager for Stanford's football program.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1954: Bobby Garrett Drafted First Overall

Bobby Garrett was the first Stanford quarterback selected first overall in 1954.

1971: Jim Plunkett Drafted First Overall

Jim Plunkett was drafted first overall in 1971.

1983: Comparison to John Elway

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. called Luck the best quarterback prospect since John Elway in 1983, highlighting his status as a top prospect.

1983: John Elway Drafted First Overall

John Elway was drafted first overall in 1983.

September 12, 1989: Andrew Luck's birth

On September 12, 1989, Andrew Austen Luck was born. He became an American football executive and former professional quarterback.

1996: First Stanford Freshman

In 1996, Chad Hutchinson was the first Stanford freshman to earn the starting quarterback job since Chad Hutchinson.

1998: Comparison to Peyton Manning

By midseason, Pauline described him as "the best quarterback since Peyton Manning" in 1998, recognizing Luck's exceptional talent and potential.

December 2008: Indianapolis Shutout Victory

In December 2008, the Indianapolis Colts had their first shutout victory since their 23-0 win over the Tennessee Titans.

2008: Redshirting Freshman Year

During his freshman year in 2008, Andrew Luck redshirted at Stanford.

2008: Joins Stanford University

In 2008, Andrew Luck accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Stanford University.

2008: High School Graduation and College Selection

In 2008, Andrew Luck graduated as co-valedictorian from Stratford High School. He was also a four-star recruit and played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, choosing to attend Stanford after being recruited by Jim Harbaugh.

2009: Starting Quarterback at Stanford

In 2009, Andrew Luck earned the starting quarterback job at Stanford, leading the Cardinal to victories and a berth in the 2009 Sun Bowl.

September 2010: Considered Most NFL-Ready Prospect

In September 2010, before Luck's sophomore season, Sports Illustrated's Tony Pauline considered him "the most NFL-ready of all the draft-eligible quarterback prospects."

December 2010: Projected as No. 1 NFL Draft Selection

In December 2010, Sporting News projected Andrew Luck as the No. 1 selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, had he entered.

2010: Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year

In 2010, Andrew Luck was named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and led Stanford to a 12–1 record, a #4 ranking, and a victory in the Orange Bowl. He set multiple school records and led the Pac-10 in several statistical categories.

January 6, 2011: Decision to Stay at Stanford

On January 6, 2011, Andrew Luck announced that he would remain at Stanford to complete his degree, despite being eligible for the 2011 NFL draft.

May 2011: Projected Top Prospect for 2012 NFL Draft

In May 2011, Andrew Luck was unanimously projected as the top prospect for the 2012 NFL draft.

2011: Plays for Stanford

From 2008 to 2011, Andrew Luck played for the Stanford Cardinal under coaches Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw.

2011: Awards and Records

In 2011, Andrew Luck led Stanford to an 11-2 record and won the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He set multiple Stanford and Pac-12 records.

2011: Record Yards in a Game

In Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, Luck threw for 433 yards, a then record for most yards in a game by a rookie quarterback (surpassing Cam Newton's 432 against the Green Bay Packers in 2011).

2011: 2011 Season

The text mentions the 2011 season, but does not provide specific events tied to the date.

2011: "Suck for Luck" Campaign

Throughout the 2011 NFL season, some fans called for their teams to try to lose games ("Suck for Luck") to improve their chances at the first pick in the draft.

March 2012: Signed with Nike

In March 2012, Andrew Luck signed with Nike, Inc. to become one of their sponsored athletes.

April 26, 2012: Selected First Overall by Colts

On April 26, 2012, Andrew Luck was officially selected as the first overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL draft.

June 17, 2012: Graduation from Stanford

On June 17, 2012, Andrew Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor's degree in architectural design and received the Al Masters Award for athletic performance, leadership, and academic achievement.

July 19, 2012: Signs with Indianapolis Colts

On July 19, 2012, Andrew Luck signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts worth $22 million.

November 25, 2012: Seattle Seahawks' regular-season loss

On November 25, 2012, the Colts defeated the Seattle Seahawks, marking Seattle's first regular-season loss since this date.

December 23, 2012: Breaks Rookie Passing Yards Record

On December 23, 2012, Andrew Luck broke the record for most passing yards in a season by a rookie, throwing 205 yards to bring his season total to 4,183, surpassing Cam Newton's previous record.

2012: Fiesta Bowl Berth

In 2011, Andrew Luck led Stanford to a berth in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State and a #7 ranking in the final AP Poll.

2012: Favorite Book Mention

In 2012, Andrew Luck stated that his favorite book was Henri Charrière's Papillon.

Papillon (P.S.)

Check it on Amazon

2012: Drafted into NFL

In 2012, Andrew Luck was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL draft after a successful college career at Stanford.

2012: "Andrew Luck Director of Offense" endowed

In 2012, an anonymous donor endowed a permanent chair for Stanford's offensive coordinator position to be known as the "Andrew Luck Director of Offense."

2012: Projected Top Prospect for 2012 NFL Draft

In May 2011, Andrew Luck was unanimously projected as the top prospect for the 2012 NFL draft.

September 2013: Partner and investor in BodyArmor SuperDrink

In September 2013, Andrew Luck became a partner and investor in BodyArmor SuperDrink.

2013: Playoff Comeback

During the 2013 playoffs, Andrew Luck oversaw the NFL's second-largest playoff comeback, leading the Colts in the postseason.

2013: Parks and Recreation Appearance

In 2013, Andrew Luck appeared on the comedy series Parks and Recreation as himself, alongside teammates.

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2013: Reunited with Pep Hamilton

In 2013, Andrew Luck was reunited with offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. Luck also had a comeback win against the Oakland Raiders and a win against his former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

2013: Ranked #1 Game of 2013 by NFL.com

In 2013, Andrew Luck's historic comeback game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round was ranked #1 on NFL.com's Top Games of 2013.

January 4, 2014: Historic Playoff Comeback against Kansas City Chiefs

On January 4, 2014, Andrew Luck led the Colts to an historic comeback victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, overcoming a 28-point deficit to win 45–44.

January 19, 2014: Named to Second Pro Bowl

On January 19, 2014, Andrew Luck was named to his second Pro Bowl, replacing Russell Wilson due to Wilson's participation in Super Bowl XLVIII. He was chosen first by Deion Sanders in the selection process.

2014: 3,000 passing yards and single-season touchdown mark broken

In 2014, Andrew Luck became the first quarterback to reach 3,000 passing yards. Luck broke his single-season touchdown mark in the Colts Week 9 game against the New York Giants, throwing four to bring his total to 26.

2014: AFC Championship Game and Passing Touchdown Leader

In 2014, Andrew Luck helped the Colts reach the AFC Championship Game. He also earned Pro Bowl honors and led the league in passing touchdowns in 2014.

2014: First Quarterback to Reach 4,000 Passing Yards

In 2014, Andrew Luck was the first quarterback to reach 4,000 passing yards.

2014: Breaks single-season completion record

In 2014, Luck set a new record in single-season completions, passing his previous mark of 380.

2015: Ranked seventh on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015

In 2015, Andrew Luck was ranked seventh by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2015: Parody Twitter Account

In 2015, a parody Twitter account began portraying Andrew Luck as an American Civil War-like soldier commenting on his career.

2015: Shoulder Injury

Shortly following the 2016 season, Luck underwent surgery to repair an issue with his right shoulder that had been lingering since 2015.

2016: Signed six-year extension with the Colts

In 2016, Andrew Luck signed a six-year contract extension with the Colts worth $140 million, making him the highest-paid player in the league.

2016: Guaranteed $16.55 million

In 2016, the Colts picked up the fifth-year option on Luck's contract, guaranteeing him $16.55 million.

2017: Injury Season

Andrew Luck missed the entire 2017 season due to injuries.

2017: Ranked 51st on NFL Top 100 Players of 2017

In 2017, Andrew Luck was ranked 51st by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2017: Ruled out for the 2017 season due to injury

In 2017, after undergoing shoulder surgery, Andrew Luck was placed on injured reserve and ruled out for the season. He sought additional treatment in Europe and rehab in Los Angeles.

February 7, 2018: Luck Will Not Need Additional Surgery

On February 7, 2018, Colts' general manager Chris Ballard stated that Andrew Luck would not need additional surgery on his shoulder.

September 9, 2018: First Game in 616 Days

On September 9, 2018, Andrew Luck played his first game in 616 days against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording 319 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Colts lost 34–23.

March 31, 2019: Marriage to Nicole Pechanec

On March 31, 2019, Andrew Luck married his longtime girlfriend, Nicole Pechanec.

June 14, 2019: Announcement of first child

On June 14, 2019, Andrew Luck announced that he and his wife, Nicole Pechanec, were expecting their first child.

August 24, 2019: Retirement Announcement

On August 24, 2019, Andrew Luck announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons, citing recurrent injuries and rehabilitation as the primary reason.

November 2019: Birth of daughter Lucy

In November 2019, Andrew Luck and Nicole Pechanec's first child, a daughter named Lucy, was born.

2019: Retirement from NFL

Citing the injuries he sustained, Andrew Luck retired from the NFL ahead of the 2019 season.

2019: Named Comeback Player of the Year

In 2019, Andrew Luck was named the National Football League Comeback Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association, and he was ranked 20th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

August 2022: Re-enrollment at Stanford

In August 2022, Andrew Luck re-enrolled at Stanford as a graduate student, pursuing a master's degree in education.

December 2022: Clarified Retirement Decision

In December 2022, an ESPN article clarified Andrew Luck's retirement decision, stating that while injuries played a role, another factor was a desire to save his relationship with his wife, Nicole.

2022: College Football Hall of Fame Induction

Andrew Luck was announced as a 2022 inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame on January 10.

2022: Return to Stanford

In 2022, Andrew Luck moved to the Bay Area and returned to Stanford after residing in Indianapolis with his family after retirement.

September 21, 2023: Appearance as Capt. Andrew Luck

On September 21, 2023, Andrew Luck appeared on the post-game broadcast dressed as the persona "Capt. Andrew Luck" following a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants.

2023: Volunteer Coach at Palo Alto High School

In 2023, Andrew Luck began serving as a part-time volunteer coach at Palo Alto High School, working with the school's junior varsity team.

2023: Inducted into Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame

In 2023, Andrew Luck was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame.

2024: Praise for parody account

In 2024, Andrew Luck praised the "Capt. Andrew Luck" parody account, expressing admiration for its humor and wit.

2024: Returns to Stanford

In 2024, Andrew Luck returned to Stanford as the Cardinal's general manager.

March 25, 2025: Firing of Troy Taylor

On March 25, 2025, Andrew Luck, in his capacity as Stanford's general manager, terminated head football coach Troy Taylor after two investigations into the latter's conduct towards female staffers.