The Colts just wanted to remind the league that they have a hands-off policy on Andrew Luck: pursue him at your own risk.
Colts owner Jim Irsay doesn't want other NFL teams getting any ideas about quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck is a Colt through and through — both figuratively and contractually.
The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback retired in 2019 with three seasons left on his contract, and according to ESPN's Stephen Holder, the contract tolled after Luck's departure. That means if Luck ever returns to the NFL, the Colts would own his rights.
This is all popping up in 2023 because Irsay caught wind of a report that the Washington Commanders were sniffing around last offseason to see if Luck had any interest in returning to the league.
In the present day, Holder makes it abundantly clear that Luck has no plans to retire, and even if a team had reached out to him last year, Luck would likely have turned them down.
Colts' Jim Irsay tells teams to stay away from QB Andrew Luck
Irsay posted on Twitter saying any team trying to contact Luck would be a violation of the NFL's tampering policy, and Indy is currently looking into whether any tampering occurred between the Commanders and Luck in 2022.
Back then, Washington was desperately in search of a starting quarterback and ended up trading for then-Colts player Carson Wentz. So there's some history between the two teams, but whereas Indy were already looking to offload the luckless Wentz, the franchise wasn't about to let anyone touch the holy grail that was Andrew Luck.
The Commanders franchise seems satisfied with its quarterback room this offseason and probably has no plans to pursue Luck in the future, especially not after Irsay's threatening comments.
The six-year Colts legend retired at age 29 after a slew of injuries derailed his career; once hailed as Indy's quarterback of the future, Luck was one game away from taking his team to the Super Bowl in 2014, but he ultimately lost to Tom Brady and the Patriots in the AFC Championship.
Luck has only known one team in his NFL career, and the Colts intend to keep it that way. The rest of the league has been warned.