I feel for Andrew Luck.
I feel for the fans of Indianapolis that booed him as he walked off the field during his last preseason game.
Not because they lost a star-quarterback, but because they didn’t see everything from Andrew’s eyes.
If you consume any sports-related media, then you would have heard by now that Peyton Manning’s heir to the Indianapolis QB-throne just called it quits.
He is 29. He was “mentally worn out”.
What gives?
He was in his prime, poised to break passing records.
What can we learn from this?
What can be expected from future NFL-players?
The Big Takeaway
Yes, it may hurt that one of the current greats is gone.
Yes, the QB situation is unknown for the Colts moving forward.
(Best of luck to Jacoby Brissett on this amazing opportunity. Make Colts nation proud!)
Back to Andrew Luck. What happened from a behavioral point of view that has caused sports journalists to go buck-wild?
There is a mismatch in reinforcers: My reinforcer is different from your reinforcer.
Reinforcers are things that motivate us. What makes me different than you.
Said simply = what we want is different from what Andrew wants.
We want Andrew to keep playing. Andrew doesn’t want to keep playing.
Andrew Luck, the Colts brass, and fan-base are different. And they all have different reinforcers!
- Touchdowns and wins keep players playing,
- Better commercial deals allow NFL ownership more funds to buy marquee players, and
- Better seats let us see our favorite players even closer.
The totality of events that led up to Andrew retiring were unique and different to him. I didn’t play much football as a 2nd-string wide receiver in middle school, so I have no clue what it means to be a QB at all. But I can say this, at this point in Luck’s career, the reinforcer for him was “relief”.
Relief from all the injuries. Relief from all the mental fatigue. Relief from the pressure to be an NFL-quarterback. Relief from whatever else is important to Andrew.
At the same time, as Andrew said in his interview:
“I’ve been stuck in this process. I haven’t been able to live the life I want to live…”
While Luck gains relief from the NFL, he simultaneously gains access to the life that he wants to live. Whether it be more family time, fishing (if he fishes), and watching footba….wait, probably not.
Andrew’s football reinforcers (e.g., “love of the game”, touchdowns) are no longer effective. And that is unique to Andrew.
That is something that we all have to get comfortable with. This idea goes beyond sports. People’s preferences and what they like to do change over time.
And this is where the clash comes in…
The fans want to see Andrew Luck breaking away from pass-rushers, slinging rocket balls, and winning playoff games. But Andrew doesn’t want to see Andrew doing any of those things anymore.
In a New York Times piece, Colts owner Jim Irsay suggested that Andrew Luck potentially left $500 Million in career earnings on the table by retiring so young.
Besides the delayed and uncertain issues of that money, let’s get back to Andrew’s reinforcer, no money can carry him through the game (or maintain) his high-level of play.
It is said that we all have a price, but sometimes, just sometimes, no dollar amount can get us to maintain certain behaviors (playing QB).
And sometimes money will never be the answer.
To the fans that booed Andrew Luck last Saturday, let’s support Andrew a little more. He gave us six incredible seasons. The least we can do is say thank you and lift him up. Appreciate the six years we all had.
People change. The environment changes around you. An environment that produces kidney lacerations, torn shoulder cartilage, and concussions.
We need to embrace each other when our reinforcers change.
Keep moving,
Nick
