Andrew Luck. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Colts settle Andrew Luck tampering issue with Commanders

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated May 22, 2023 2:07 PM ET

After asking the NFL to investigate a potential tampering situation involving retired quarterback Andrew Luck and the Washington Commanders, the situation has been “resolved to the Colts’ satisfaction,” according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder.

The Colts raised concerns around two weeks ago about possible tampering when another ESPN report stated the Commanders reached out to Luck during the 2022 offseason to inquire if he had any interest in returning to the NFL.

However, the league determined that nobody from the Commanders organization spoke directly to Luck or anyone in his immediate circle, which is not a violation of the NFL’s anti-tampering policy, which states “no club, nor any person employed by or otherwise affiliated with a club, is permitted to tamper with a player who is under contract to or whose exclusive negotiating rights are held by another club.”

The Colts have accepted the finding that the Commanders did not contact former QB Andrew Luck and, therefore, did not violate the NFL's anti-tampering rules, a league source told @HolderStephen. https://t.co/evmH1G3sn6
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 22, 2023

Although Luck retired in 2019, the Colts still own his rights as he had three years left on his deal when he left. His contract was tolled, meaning if Luck returned to the NFL at any point he would have to finish out those three years with Indianapolis.

Following the initial report of Washington’s interest in Luck, Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted that any contact with the 33-year-old signal-caller would be a tampering violation. Irsay reportedly called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell not long after to ask that the matter be investigated.

Because there was no evidence that tampering actually took place, the Commanders will face no disciplinary action from the NFL.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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