Stanford football has faced challenges in recent years, with the team finishing 3-9 in each of the past four seasons.
Now, the Cardinal are looking to a familiar figure to help restore the program’s national prominence, which they held for much of the 2010s.
Former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is returning to his alma mater as the general manager of the football program, he confirmed.
In this new position, Luck will assume a role that “will oversee the entire program” and is distinct from many of the general manager roles that have emerged in college football in recent years.
Luck’s role will involve overseeing the coaching staff, player personnel, recruiting, roster management, and the overall athlete experience. Additionally, he will handle business-related tasks such as fundraising, sponsorships, sales, the in-stadium experience, and alumni relations.
“I’m excited,” Luck said. “Stanford is taking a bold and innovative approach. We are undoubtedly the best athletic department in college sports. Now, we need to prove that again in football, and we’re eager to take on that challenge.”
The 35-year-old Andrew Luck has stayed away from football and largely out of the public spotlight since his sudden retirement in 2019, just two weeks before the NFL season began.
At Stanford, Luck was an All-American in 2011 and finished as a two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up. In his final two seasons, he led the Cardinal to a 23-3 record and two major bowl appearances, including a win in the Orange Bowl following the 2010 season.
Regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects in years, Andrew Luck was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft. At the professional level, he thrived, earning four Pro Bowl selections and leading the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2014, the same year he guided the Colts to the AFC Championship game.
Andrew Luck faced numerous injuries throughout his NFL career, which played a significant role in his decision to retire while still in his prime.
After retiring, Luck returned to Stanford and earned his master’s degree in education in 2022. He told that the idea of coming back to Stanford came up during a conversation with the university’s president. In his new role, Luck aims to help the university adjust to the evolving college football landscape, especially with regard to players earning money through name, image, and likeness rights, an area where he feels Stanford has been “slow to the draw.”
“I’m approaching this with open eyes, aware of both my strengths and limitations,” Luck said. “I know there’s a lot I don’t know, and that makes it exciting. I’m looking forward to working with Bernard and Troy. I’ve got a lot to learn from Troy, as he’s been successful everywhere he’s gone.”