Collegiate Career at Stanford University

Luck played college football at Stanford University, where he was widely regarded as one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory. He earned numerous accolades during his time with the Stanford Cardinal, including the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award, both honoring him as the college football player of the year. Additionally, he was a consensus All-American and a two-time runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2010 and 2011.

In the Pac-12 Conference (previously Pac-10), Luck was named the Offensive Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2011. His remarkable collegiate performance drew considerable attention from NFL scouts and analysts. CBS Sports draft analyst Rob Rang referred to Luck as the best quarterback prospect he had ever evaluated. Similarly, the Kansas City Star compared the hype around Luck to that of other generational athletes such as LeBron James and Bryce Harper.

Decision to Delay NFL Entry

Although he was widely projected to be the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Luck chose to return to Stanford for his redshirt junior season. He completed another standout year before declaring for the draft in 2012, when he was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts.

Professional Career with the Indianapolis Colts

Luck made an immediate impact in the NFL. In each of his first three seasons—from 2012 to 2014—he led the Colts to playoff appearances, including division titles in 2013 and 2014. He was named to the Pro Bowl in all three of those seasons, showcasing his consistency and leadership at the professional level.

One of the highlights of his early career came during the 2013–14 NFL playoffs, when Luck led the Colts to a dramatic comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, overcoming a 28-point deficit—the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history.