Andrew Luck met Nicole Pechanec during their freshman year at Stanford, two student-athletes navigating demanding schedules and rigorous coursework. Andrew, the promising quarterback destined for the NFL, and Nicole, an elite gymnast competing internationally for the Czech Republic, found an instant connection through their shared experiences in sports.
But their story didn’t begin with grand gestures or dramatic confessions. Instead, Luck orchestrated a clever ploy to get Nicole’s number—pretending to lose his phone and asking her to call it. That simple act set the foundation for a relationship that would weather injuries, career changes, and personal growth.
Who Is Andrew Luck’s Wife? All About Nicole Pechanec
Nicole Pechanec was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Czechoslovakian parents, a lineage that shaped both her identity and athletic career. Her mother, a former gymnast, took on the role of her coach, homeschooling Nicole to ensure she could dedicate herself entirely to the sport.
At 15, she made the life-altering decision to move to the Czech Republic and train with the national team. She competed at the highest levels, appearing in the World Games and European Championships before shifting her focus to academics. At Stanford, she majored in architectural design while leading the gymnastics team as captain and innovating a move on the uneven bars—the Pechancova, named after her.
When Andrew suffered a shoulder injury in 2015, Nicole was instrumental in his recovery. Her background in gymnastics, with its relentless training and pain endurance, made her an ideal support system. She accompanied him to the Netherlands for two months as he worked with a specialized trainer to rehabilitate his throwing arm. Luck has since credited her with helping him push through some of his darkest moments, saying, “There’s no way I get through those two months without her.”
On March 30, 2019, the couple tied the knot in Prague, Czech Republic, in a private ceremony that felt more like a celebration of a decade-long partnership rather than the beginning of something new. Andrew Luck, always modest about his personal life, described it as “the best day of my life, and probably the best offseason I’ve ever had.” Little did he know, that offseason would be his last as an NFL quarterback.
Later that year, on August 24, 2019, Andrew shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement at just 29 years old. The relentless cycle of injuries and rehab had drained his love for the game. He cited a desire for a life beyond football, a life that, by then, was about to include fatherhood.
Andrew Luck Shares Two Kids With Nicole Pechanec
Just months after stepping away from the NFL, Andrew and Nicole welcomed their first daughter, Lucy Luck, born on November 12, 2019, at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. The arrival of Lucy solidified what Luck had been searching for—a sense of purpose outside of football.
By 2022, the Luck family had grown once more with the birth of their second daughter, Penelope. Andrew embraced the role of a stay-at-home dad, navigating preschool drop-offs and playdates while Nicole continued her work as a field producer for NBC and ESPN. Despite his deep love for football, he found solace in a simpler life, one that revolved around his daughters’ milestones rather than Sunday night lights. He would occasionally drop by his alma mater, Stanford, where he had enrolled in the Graduate School of Education, considering a future in coaching or teaching.
Life as a father and husband brought a new kind of structure for Andrew Luck, one centered on home rather than stadiums. While he still followed the game from afar, he was content watching Lucy’s soccer practice from the sidelines rather than orchestrating comebacks on the field. He and Nicole remained in Indianapolis, a city that once defined his career but now served as the backdrop for a much quieter existence.
With two young daughters and a deep appreciation for the life he’d built, Andrew Luck had finally found his peace, away from the pressures of being the face of a franchise and into the role he cherished most—being a devoted husband and father.
