Oliver Luck is a former American football quarterback who played for the Houston Oilers and the Frankfurt Galaxy in the NFL and NFL Europe respectively. He was born on April 5, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. Luck played college football at West Virginia University, where he was a standout quarterback and led the team to several victories.
After college, Luck was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played for the Oilers from 1982 to 1986, where he served as a backup quarterback to Warren Moon. Luck's best season with the Oilers was in 1984 when he started five games and threw for 1,375 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 1987, Luck joined the Frankfurt Galaxy of the newly formed NFL Europe league. He played for the Galaxy for two seasons and led the team to a World Bowl championship in 1989. Luck was named the game's MVP after throwing for 267 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over the Barcelona Dragons.
After his playing career, Luck went on to work in various roles in the football industry. He served as the general manager of the Frankfurt Galaxy from 1991 to 1994 and helped the team win two more World Bowl championships. Luck also worked as the president of NFL Europe from 1996 to 2000, where he oversaw the league's expansion and growth.
In 2010, Luck was named the athletic director at his alma mater, West Virginia University. During his tenure, he oversaw the school's move from the Big East Conference to the Big 12 Conference and helped the football program achieve success on the field. Luck also played a key role in the construction of the school's new football stadium, which opened in 2010.
In 2018, Luck was named the commissioner of the XFL, a new professional football league that was founded by WWE chairman Vince McMahon. Luck oversaw the league's launch in 2020, which featured eight teams and a unique set of rules designed to make the game faster and more exciting. However, the league's inaugural season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the XFL filed for bankruptcy in April 2020.
Overall, Oliver Luck had a successful football career as a player, executive, and administrator. He played at a high level in both the NFL and NFL Europe and helped lead his teams to several championships. Luck also made significant contributions to the growth and development of football as an executive and administrator, and his impact on the sport will be felt for years to come.
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