Report: Andrew Luck's input on Stanford AD hire revealed as timeline becomes clear

Andrew Luck will have massive input on Stanford’s hiring of a new athletic director, according to Jon Wilner. Luck was hired as the football program’s general manager late last fall.

“Stanford is close to naming a new AD. Probably next 1-2 weeks,” Wilner wrote on Twitter. “Expect preferred candidate to have football cops (i.e, Luck’s stamp of approval) and rev-gen experience. Non-traditional hire/outside college sports a distinct possibility.”

Back in February, athletic director Bernard Muir’s plan to resign became clear. Muir took over the position from Bob Bowlsby in 2012 after Bowlsby left Stanford in favor of becoming the commissioner of the Big 12. The 13-year tenure was his third-ever job as an athletic director, previously being with Georgetown and Delaware.

Now, with Luck’s influence, the new athletic director will have a heavy dose of football and revenue generation in order to keep Stanford in line with other premier Power Four schools. Luck even approved the hire of Frank Reich as the team’s interim head coach after the firing of Troy Taylor.

Luck won’t just sit back and delegate. He’s going to be heavily involved in improving the program.

“I imagine this being very hands on,” Luck said. “And, yeah, we do have a vision. We absolutely have a vision. And, you know, I think we are under no illusion about the landscape of college sports is well and out there.”

Luck played for Stanford and former coach Jim Harbaugh from 2008-11 before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

While playing at Stanford, Luck established himself as a can’t-miss prospect and was seen as a generational talent. Over the course of his college career, Luck threw for 9,430 yards, 82 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a 67% completion percentage.

Luck was a four-time Pro Bowler for the Colts but later suffered a myriad of injuries following his first three seasons in the NFL. In 2015 and ’16, Luck played just 22 of 36 games before missing the entire 2017 season.

He returned in 2018 as was named Comeback Player of the Year, leading the Colts to the playoffs. However, he shockingly retired during the preseason in 2019, citing his health.

Luck finished his NFL career with 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns, 83 interceptions and a 60.8% completion percentage. He made the playoffs in four of his seven seasons, including an AFC Championship appearance in 2014.