“Luck is where you find it” is the old cliche and, in this case, Andrew Luck was right there in front of them.
Luck, the former All-America quarterback at Stanford, is returning to his college alma mater in a newly-created role. The 35-year-old alum was named last week the school’s first-ever general manager of its football program.
In the new position, Luck’s football specific responsibilities will be managing both the coaching and player personnel staff, recruiting, and roster management. His business duties will include fundraising, sponsorships, attendance, sales, in-stadium experience, and alumni relations. In this developing NIL era in college, an NFL-type general manager role may become more appealing to those university presidents who want their football programs to attract both young student-athletes and enthusiastic alumni.
“I’m excited,” Luck told ESPN last weekend. “I think Stanford is taking an assertive and innovative step. We’re undoubtedly (he says modestly) the best athletic department in college sports. We must re-prove it in football, and we’re excited to be part of that challenge.”
Luck, the Colts’ first round draft choice in 2012 who retired in 2019 at age 29 due to injuries, has an undergraduate degree from Stanford in architectural design. He returned to the university in 2022 to get a master’s degree in education. He met his wife Nicole, a former Stanford gymnast, while they were students. They both are thrilled to be back on campus with their two young daughters.
“I am a product of Stanford,” Luck says. “I’m profoundly influenced by (former Stanford coach) Jim Harbaugh and all the coaches and professors that I’ve ever had here.”
Stanford’s head football coach now is Troy Taylor, another NFL quarterback alum (Jets; 1990-91), who just finished his second season at the helm.
“I think I’m entering this with eyes wide open and aware of my strengths and my limitations,“ says Luck. “I would not do this at any other place. I know there’s a lot that I do not know. It’s a steep climb but I’m fired up. I also am excited to work with Troy and (athletic director) Bernard Muir. I’ve got a lot to learn from Troy. He’s been a winner everywhere he’s been.”
We at NFL Alumni wish Andrew Luck much success. As a player, he helped turn around Stanford’s football fortunes after the school had experienced seven losing seasons. We predict he will have a similar positive impact in his new front office role there.
