Andrew Luck shocked the NFL when he decided to retire. His retirement should remind us to cherish Patrick Mahomes while he is here.
The NFL was flipped upside down when the news of Andrew Luck’s retirement started coming through social media. Football fans everywhere were in complete shock. After all, how could Luck be retiring?
In an era where Drew Brees and Tom Brady are playing well into their 40s with little signs of slowing down, Luck, who is only 29 years old, had decided to hang up his cleats and move on.
Luck had not planned on his retirement going this way; he had planned on meeting with the media after he had a chance to explain things to his teammates. Instead, he was rushed to a podium after the Indianapolis Colts preseason game against the Chicago Bears. All of which happened only moments after being booed by the same fans he had played in front of for years.
At the podium, he gave an impromptu retirement speech, citing injuries as the reason he was leaving the game of football. The repeated cycle of trauma and rehab had sapped him mentally and emotionally, and he felt as if it was better for him and the team if he moved on.
Colts fans could never have imagined that their star quarterback would end his career this way. After winning only two games during the 2011 season during their “suck for Luck” campaign, they had found their savior. Now, seven years later, when the team looked like it was finally ready to compete for a Super Bowl, Luck decided to walk away.
The frustration Colts fans feel is palpable right now and is understandable. Watching all of this unfold as a Chiefs fan has helped remind me how lucky we are as a fan base.
Kansas City has the best young quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes. He dazzles everyone with the ease he continues to make highlight-reel throws—whether it is with his right hand or his left. Mahomes even gives us his all in a preseason game when he decides to dive headfirst to move the chains instead of sliding for his safety. Mahomes still loves the game as much Luck used to, and it shows every time he takes the field.
While we all plan on having Mahomes as a Chief for the next 15 years, the reality is it could only take one play for Mahomes to decide to do what Luck, Jim Brown, Patrick Willis and Calvin Johnson all did and walk away from football.
Enjoy every moment, Kansas City. Mahomes is here right now, waiting to lead this team to a Super Bowl. Hopefully the day Mahomes chooses to stop playing football isn’t for quite some time. In the interim, let’s all remember not to take this team and our MVP quarterback for granted.