Capt. Andrew Luck is back: How the Stanford GM's return revived a viral account

Two words the bulk of chronically online sports fans instantly recognize: "Dearest mother."

The operation originates from a Twitter parody relationship from 2015 to 2019, and written successful the benignant of letters from a Union worker during the Civil War era, Capt. Andrew Luck delighted his societal media followers with updates of his battles and the attraction packages helium had received with items specified arsenic dried rodent ankles and sugared beaver tail.

The existent Andrew Luck started astatine backmost for the Indianapolis Colts for 2 seasons during that span, winning Comeback Player of the Year successful 2018.

But erstwhile Luck announced his status from the NFL successful August 2019, the leafage -- @CaptAndrewLuck -- retired, too, with immoderate parting words that included this line: "I person made the determination to holster my sidearm permanently."

Still, the operation "Dearest mother" remained everlastingly sealed successful online sports lore.

"It was sad," the writer of the Capt. Luck relationship told ESPN. "But I felt similar determination was closure and determination was nary constituent truly to support it going."

In November 2024, erstwhile the Stanford Cardinal hired Luck arsenic shot wide manager to oversee the full program, the erstwhile backmost was backmost successful the crippled -- with a promotion successful rank. Captain nary more, Luck had leveled up to general.

The proprietor of the X relationship instantly thought to resurface the page.

"When the quality came, that's however I recovered out, was done my telephone going crazy," said the proprietor of the account, who asked to stay anonymous and beryllium identified lone arsenic a West Coast journalist. "And fans hitting maine up and being similar 'Oh my god, ohio my god, ohio my god, you tin bring it backmost now.' So yeah, of people I wanted to."

Quickly, the relationship posted connected X astir its return, and 1 of societal media's favourite fictional heroes was back. The relationship present boasts conscionable nether 500,000 followers.

The leafage launched successful December 2015 with this bio: "Soldier. Colt. Simple man." Since then, "Cardinal tactician." has been added successful beforehand of Colt to bespeak Luck's existent role. The creator came crossed memes depicting NFL players successful antithetic clip periods, which inspired the page's beginnings.

"I conscionable thought it was hilarious, and I'm a past buff and I've ever loved Ken Burns' Civil War series," the writer said. "And I thought it would beryllium a amusive happening to do, to speech astir shot done that benignant of voice."

The writer began utilizing the code with friends implicit substance messages, sending mock letters up of games. One person recommended starting a Twitter account, appreciating the wit and reasoning that others besides mightiness "get a footwear retired of it."

People got much than a footwear retired of it, and the page's follower number exceeded 43,000 by December 2016. Actor Rob Lowe mentioned it aggregate times. Then-Colts punter Pat McAfee said immoderate of the posts were "pretty funny."

A dependable successful the creator's caput served arsenic Capt. Luck, talking astir shot from a unsocial perspective. The character's improvement and the accuracy of his connection implicit the years were aided by the creator having a insignificant successful history.

Outside of seeing which crippled -- oregon battle, successful this lawsuit -- is next, determination is nary probe involved. Not adjacent for the tasty roadkill-themed attraction bundle items ranging from spiced raccoon calves to floured hedgehog thighs. Squirrel lipid is simply a staple.

But those virtual attraction packages went unopened erstwhile Luck announced his retirement. The relationship proprietor told ESPN that done the years determination had been respective offers for the page.

"Obviously, I haven't sold [the page] due to the fact that I don't privation to. I bask doing it excessively overmuch and I interest astir what it mightiness become. But I was acceptable to beryllium done," the writer said. "I did a last farewell tweet that I thought honestly was beauteous beautiful."

Therefore, arsenic Luck retired, s...