Andrew Luck Signs Extension Through 2021
Another year, another title-holder for the honor of biggest contract in NFL history. Entering the 2016 season, that defending champion will now be Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who signed a monster extension on Thursday tying him to the horseshoe through the 2021 season.
In the fifth year of his rookie deal, Luck was set to earn $16 million this season before signing a five-year, $123 million extension that will take effect at the beginning of next season. Par for the course, it is now the largest contract in league history, and his $87 million is the most guaranteed money ever offered to a football player.
The news was broken by eccentric Colts owner Jim Irsay the way only he can. After promising a “shocking†contract for his franchise quarterback back in February, Irsay took to Twitter, simply stating, “Andrew has signed through 2021.†Barely an hour later, he followed up the tease with, “$140 million over 6 Years…Biggest Contract in NFL History…Congrats to #12!!!â€
The move shows just how much faith the Colts have in Luck, who is coming off the worst season of his four-year pro career. Luck went 2-5 in only 7 starts last season; his campaign severely hampered by shoulder injuries and an eventual lacerated kidney.
Following an MVP-calibre 2014 (40 TDs, 16 INTs, almost 5,000 yards passing), Luck’s fourth year was an unlucky letdown for a team expected to be the cream of the crop in the AFC.
The Colts have done a fine job surrounding Luck with offensive skill players to throw to (T.Y Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett), but a less-than-stellar job of protecting their main man. Part of that is Luck’s relentless style more akin to a linebacker than a quarterback, but his sack rate is still far too high to expect him to do it all on his own.
That O-line rebuild continued in this year’s draft with Indy selecting center Ryan Kelly 18th overall. He’ll now be tasked with protecting the front side of the $140 million man. Whether Kelly’s four linemates can accomplish the same feat will decide if this deal was worth it or not.
