The Colts didn’t check in with Andrew Luck before turning to Philip Rivers.
Luck, the retired quarterback, said his former team never gave him a chance to ponder an NFL comeback during a Wednesday appearance on “The Jim Rome Show.”
“I had zero chances to say no,” Luck, 36, said.
Unlike the 44-year-old Rivers, Luck, who is now the general manager of Stanford football, wouldn’t have been so easy to convince.
“No, thank you,” Luck said he would’ve told Indianapolis if they came calling. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Luck abruptly retired from the NFL after a preseason game in 2019 when he was just 29.
After being selected first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Colts, Luck made it to four Pro Bowls and amassed a 53-33 record during six healthy seasons as a starting quarterback in Indianapolis.
In 2017, Luck missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury.
Two years earlier, he missed nine games with a shoulder injury and later a lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle.
Luck spoke highly of Rivers’ play in his return during the Colts’ close 18-16 loss to the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday.
“It’s incredible. I do stand in awe of Philip,” Luck said. “It was a great game as well. Philip Rivers was a hero of mine growing up.
“For him to be able to still go out there and sling it like he does, and not just sling it, with the authenticity and leadership and positive effect that he does bring, that certainly jumps through the TV screen,” he added. “And I wonder how many ‘Dadgummits’ he let out during the game.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler replaced Daniel Jones, who suffered a ruptured Achilles earlier this month.
Rivers will start for the Colts once again on Monday night against the 49ers.
