Playing last season for the Tennessee Titans, Matt Hasselbeck had a chance to see Andrew Luck play a little more often than other quarterbacks in the league. Hasselbeck knew Luck had talent - he was the No. 1 overall pick for a reason after all - but now that Hasselbeck is wearing the same jersey he’s even more impressed.
According to the Indianapolis Star, it’s Luck’s leadership ability that has made the biggest impression on Hasselbeck.
“I really didn’t know what kind of leader he was in the locker room,” Hasselbeck said. “It just comes real natural to him. He’s got a great sense of when to pull somebody aside, how to deal with coaches, just how he treats everyone around him.
“He’s been off-the-charts impressive that way.”
Hasselbeck grew into one of the unquestioned leaders of the Seattle Seahawks during his 10 years with the team. He has been asked to serve as a mentor to both Jake Locker and now Luck since leaving Seattle following the 2010 season. With Luck now reunited with his college offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, Luck is feeling comfortable and Hasselbeck says he’s earned respect.
“He’s earned the respect of this locker room and he’s earned the respect of the people around the league he has to go up against,” Hasselbeck said. “That probably makes it 10 times easier than it was coming in last year when he probably felt he had a lot to prove.”