Andrew Luck makes return to football as Palo Alto HS coach
PALO ALTO, Calif. (BVM) 鈥� Andrew Luck was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft after winning two Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year awards at Stanford, but after spending in the NFL, he abruptly retired. Four years after the announcement, he has found his way back to the gridiron, helping the Palo Alto High School football program.
Andrew Luck explains his decision to retire
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Luck moved back to the Bay Area to begin at Stanford last year, and this past spring, Palo Alto head football coach Dave DeGeronimo connected with Luck and now he鈥檚 making a special impact on the Vikings.聽
鈥淚 was going to take whatever he could offer,鈥� DeGeronimo told the . 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have someone of that caliber on your staff. The kids love it.鈥�
No one might enjoy it more than Palo Alto senior quarterback Declan Parker, who has helped the Vikings to a 2-1 record and passed for 637 yards, seven touchdowns and completed 66% of his passes.
鈥淭he first week he got here, we have our whole playbook and he walks in not knowing any of our plays,鈥� Parker told Mercury News. 鈥淭he next day he comes, he knew every single play. It was crazy 鈥� he knows everything about football.鈥�
Before Luck decided to return to the gridiron, he was asked what he could bring to the table if he became a coach.聽
鈥淚f I were to coach, what would I bring? Well, certainly an experience that鈥檚 semi-unique on the scale of football experiences,鈥� Luck . 鈥淚 shouldn鈥檛 say semi-unique. Completely unique.鈥�
Luck coaches twice a week, but it鈥檚 clear that he鈥檚 made a significant impact at Palo Alto and the players and coaches are excited to have him. But more importantly, it looks like Luck is enjoying being on a football field again and he is giving back to a sport that means a lot to him.
