Andrew Luck announced his retirement from the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 24, 2019, after an ESPN report during a Colts preseason game.
Luck had known he was retiring at least a week earlier, and he had planned a news conference on Aug. 25 to make the announcement.
But the surprise report on that Saturday night caught him — and his wife, Nicole Pechanec — by surprise.
Appearing on the “Dan Patrick Show” on Thursday, Feb. 5, Luck explained how it affected his home life.
“I retired and she was 6, maybe 7 months pregnant with our eldest,” he said. “She was loving being pregnant, and I felt supported by her, no matter what. I didn’t go through it alone. Helpful, helpful.”
However, the timing was awkward in multiple ways.
“Her 30th birthday was the weekend before. She’s accused me ever since of hijacking her birthday party, to tell her family who came into town, and our close friends, that it was done,” Luck said with a laugh. “I get to live with that for the rest my life and our relationship. Sorry, honey.”
Luck said Nicole hadn’t planned to attend that preseason game against the Chicago Bears, but she quickly jumped on a scooter outside their downtown condominium to zip to Lucas Oil Stadium.
“She wasn’t going to go to the game. I wasn’t playing. It was preseason,” Luck said. “She was late to the game. She got on a scooter when she realized when the news broke, to support me.”
What is Andrew Luck doing now?
He is the football general manager at Stanford, where he played quarterback from 2009-11.
How much money did Andrew Luck make in the NFL?
Over seven years, Andrew Luck earned $109.1 million, according to Spotrac.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Andrew Luck says he hijacked his wife’s 30th birthday weekend with retirement announcement
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
