Philip Rivers, the legendary quarterback known for his fiery spirit and ironman streak, is back in the NFL spotlight. After five years away from professional football, the 44-year-old Rivers has returned to the Indianapolis Colts, signing to the practice squad and preparing for a potential start as the team faces a quarterback crisis. The news has electrified football fans and stunned observers across the league: Rivers, whose last game action came in January 2021, is gearing up for a possible comeback this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rivers’ journey back to the gridiron is as improbable as it is inspiring. After retiring following the 2020 season—his only year with the Colts after 16 seasons with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers—Rivers settled into life as a high school football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He spent the last five years mentoring young athletes, rarely setting foot near an NFL facility. Yet, when the Colts found themselves in desperate need of a quarterback, Rivers was the man they called.
The Colts’ quarterback woes have been well-documented this season. After a promising 7-1 start, Indianapolis encountered a string of injuries at the game’s most crucial position. Starter Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon during a 36-19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie Riley Leonard, who played the final three quarters of that game, sustained a knee injury himself, though he managed to practice on Wednesday. Anthony Richardson, the highly touted 2023 draft pick, remains on injured reserve after an orbital fracture earlier in the year. In a scramble for depth, the Colts also signed Brett Rypien to the active roster.
It was against this backdrop that Colts head coach Shane Steichen—who previously worked with Rivers for six seasons as an offensive assistant with the Chargers—made the call. Rivers recounted the whirlwind 48 hours that followed: "I had not given any thought of playing again until about 48 hours ago, to be honest with you," Rivers told reporters at the Colts facility. "But something about it excited me. Just kind of one of those deals—a door opens and you can either walk through and find out if you can do it or run from it. I know that there’s risk involved obviously in what may or may not happen. But the only way to find out is to go for it."
Rivers worked out for the Colts on Monday, signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, and by Wednesday was practicing with the team. The 6-foot-5 quarterback, who once boasted a 228-pound playing weight, admitted with a chuckle that he’s not quite at his old playing weight. "Not what it was when I walked off the field in Buffalo," Rivers said, referencing his last NFL game—a 27-24 playoff loss to the Bills on January 9, 2021. "But then I follow that up with I ain’t never ran away from anybody anyway, so people say, ‘Well, they’re going to know you’re going to be right there.’ And it’s, like, well, they knew that for 16, 17 years."
For Rivers, the decision to return wasn’t made lightly. "It’s been a whirlwind of 48 hours, I’ll say, but each moment that goes by I feel more and more confident. I really do. I think for me the decision wasn’t easy, and because of all the things that you all can imagine. There’s human nature to have a little doubt, and I think for me working through that was, well, that’s normal. That’s normal to have a little doubt. Who wouldn’t have doubt after five years? But is that doubt real or not? It’s like, well, like I go back to our first answer, the only way you can find out is to go."
The family aspect played a major role in Rivers’ deliberations. Now a grandfather and a father of ten, Rivers described a household buzzing with excitement and nerves. "My wife’s been my biggest fan the whole time I’ve played, and she’s nervous about the physical aspect of it, as you would expect any wife to. But, shoot, I mean for 250 games or whatever it was, that was a risk, as you see every week, whether you’re 24 and in the best shape of your life or whether you’re 44 and not so sure. You know, anything can happen. So that has never been a concern of mine. You never hope something like that, really, or expect something like that to happen. But, shoot, something like that happens, I got a long time to recover."
His children’s reactions have ranged from confusion to jubilation. "My younger children are most excited. I shouldn’t say most excited. They’re excited because they don’t remember dad playing. You know, my 6-year-old actually asked me, like, four months ago, like, ‘Dad, why don’t you play anymore?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m sorry. Best you’re going to get is me coaching on the sideline,’ you know, because they were seeing highlights or they’re pulling up some old games. My boys are fired up, obviously, but I think share the same sentiment, a little nervous like, ‘Dad, you think you can do it?’ And then my older girls are real excited because they’re a little bit confused. They’re like, ‘Shoot, I was 12,’ now all of a sudden they’re grown adults, married and they remember being 16 years old going to the ball game."
Rivers’ return is not without historical resonance. He left the NFL after a remarkable streak of 252 consecutive starts, having thrown for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns in his final season. He sits sixth all-time in passing touchdowns and seventh in passing yards, making him a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yet, his decision to return wasn’t influenced by Hall of Fame eligibility. "Missing the Hall of Fame, it’s a real honor to be mentioned with those other 25 guys, certainly, but I’m not holding my breath on that," Rivers said. "I hadn’t been counting down the years. I mean, with all respect to the Hall, and if one day I can be a part of that group, it will be special, no question about it. But the extension of time, if that comes to be, was not a factor in my thinking."
Coach Steichen, for his part, called Rivers’ return "a full circle moment," praising his intelligence and leadership. "For him to come back and want to do this at 44 years old, I think is incredible, and I know he’s going to give everything to this organization that he has," Steichen said.
As the Colts prepare to face the Seahawks in a pivotal Week 15 matchup, Rivers is taking a day-by-day approach. "If that’s where it goes, I’ll be ready to go," Rivers said. "I’m not here to try to save the day. I’m going to know where I’m limited, and as we go, it will get better if that’s the route that we end up going. But again, full confidence in Shane and (general manager) Chris (Ballard) and the organization in making those decisions as we move forward each and every day."
The NFL world waits with bated breath. Will Rivers, the ultimate competitor, lead the Colts once more? For now, the story is still being written—and what a chapter it promises to be.
