- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Andrew Luck Denies Colts GM Pressured Retirement Decision
Former quarterback refutes claim that Chris Ballard influenced his 2019 decision to step away from the NFL.
Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:07pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has rejected a claim made by former Colts tight end Eric Ebron that team general manager Chris Ballard pressured Luck to retire in 2019. Luck said in an email that his partnership with Ballard during his retirement decision was 'wonderful' and that 'any notion of internal pressures' was 'without merit.'
Why it matters
Luck's abrupt retirement in 2019, at the age of 29, was a major shock for the Colts franchise and their fans. The team has struggled to find a long-term answer at quarterback since Luck's departure, making his reasoning for retiring an ongoing topic of discussion and debate.
The details
According to Ebron, Ballard told Luck 'you're either playing this year or we're moving on' as Luck was dealing with an ankle injury. Ebron claimed Luck felt he 'was not going to be ready' and decided to retire given Ballard's ultimatum. However, Luck firmly denied this account, stating that his partnership with Ballard during the retirement process was 'wonderful' and that any suggestion of internal pressure was 'without merit.'
- Andrew Luck announced his retirement from the NFL in August 2019, just before the start of the 2019 season.
The players
Andrew Luck
A former quarterback who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2018 before abruptly retiring in 2019 at the age of 29 due to the physical and mental toll of numerous injuries.
Chris Ballard
The current general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, who Luck says he had a 'wonderful partnership' with during his retirement decision process.
Eric Ebron
A former tight end who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2019 and made the claim that Ballard pressured Luck to retire.
What they’re saying
“Chris and I had a wonderful partnership, especially through my decision to retire, and we remain close. Any notion of internal pressures that influenced my decision are without merit.”
— Andrew Luck, Former Colts Quarterback
“Ballard, who he described as someone who 'gets on everyone's nerves,' told Luck 'you're either playing this year or we're moving on.'”
— Eric Ebron, Former Colts Tight End
What’s next
The Colts will continue their search for a long-term answer at quarterback after struggling to find stability at the position since Luck's retirement. Their recent signing of Daniel Jones to a new contract is seen as a potential solution, and the team hopes Jones can be the answer they've been looking for.
The takeaway
Andrew Luck's abrupt retirement in 2019 remains a source of ongoing discussion and debate, with claims of internal pressure from the team's front office. However, Luck has firmly denied any notion that Colts GM Chris Ballard influenced his decision, stating they had a 'wonderful partnership' during that process. The Colts' inability to replace Luck has only heightened the scrutiny around his retirement.
