Washington Commanders Will Avoid Tampering Penalties

The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders have resolved their issues. According to ESPN's Stephen Holder, the NFL has concluded its investigation into alleged tampering by the Commanders with retired Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and found no evidence of wrongdoing.

The Colts appear satisfied with the inquiry into the possible Washington tampering of Andrew Luck and I believe we can now put this whole thing to rest. https://t.co/TtBDsYXqbB
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) May 22, 2023

In their far-reaching attempts to solve a lingering quarterback issue, the Commanders reportedly reached out to Luck this offseason, drawing the ire of Colts owner Jim Irsay. Despite Luck retiring following the 2018 season, the Colts maintain exclusive rights to the four-time Pro Bowler, and any contact from another team regarding the possibility of playing would constitute tampering. The NFL determined the Commanders never spoke to Luck or anyone immediately connected to him.

Once heralded as perhaps the greatest quarterback prospect of all time, Luck entered the league as the first overall pick of the Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft and was immediately charged with the monumental task of replacing Colts legend Peyton Manning.

Luck played seven mostly competent seasons in the NFL, peaking with a 2014 season in which he led the league in passing touchdowns (40), propelled the Colts to the sixth most points in the league, and made his first and only AFC Championship game appearance. Unfortunately, his physical style of play quickly took a toll on his body: he missed 10 total games during the 2015 and 2016 seasons and struggled when healthy. He would also miss the entirety of the 2017 season.

Luck bounced back in 2018, making the Pro Bowl, earning Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year honors, and leading the Colts to the fifth-most points in the league. His final season ended in disappointment: he struggled in a humiliating 31-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round. His career would end without a championship, a 4-4 postseason record, and a 73.4 passer rating in the playoffs.

Luck shockingly retired in August of 2019 during the Colts preseason citing an accumulation of injuries and has been dogged by comeback rumors ever since. Still only 33 years old, Luck's rare talent has kept him an object of fascination, but it should be clear by now that football holds no allure for him. He may be one of the great 'what-ifs' in NFL history, but he seems perfectly content in his life as is, even if what might have been still fascinates NFL teams.