Philip Rivers Eyes Potential NFL Comeback with Colts
In a surprising turn of events for the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts are considering bringing 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement to address their quarterback crisis. After starting quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on Sunday, and backup Riley Leonard is now dealing with a knee injury that has him listed as week-to-week, the team is in desperate need of experienced leadership. Rivers, who just celebrated his birthday on Monday, is scheduled to visit Indianapolis on Tuesday to discuss potentially joining the practice squad. This remarkable development comes as the Colts find themselves sliding in the playoff race, having lost three consecutive games since their bye week.
Rivers’ potential return to professional football would mark a significant comeback after retiring following the 2020 season, which he spent with the Colts. During that final season, the then-39-year-old quarterback demonstrated he still had plenty to offer, passing for 4,169 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading Indianapolis to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. Since retirement, Rivers has been coaching high school football in Alabama, though his name has occasionally surfaced in NFL conversations. He reportedly was open to joining the New Orleans Saints in 2021, and the San Francisco 49ers considered him as an emergency option for Super Bowl LVII after injuries to their quarterbacks in the NFC Championship game.
The timing of this potential comeback is particularly interesting as Rivers recently became a grandfather, adding another chapter to his remarkable life story. His NFL career statistics speak to his impressive longevity and skill – 63,440 passing yards, 421 touchdowns, and a 64.9% completion rate across 244 career games. Though his playoff record stands at 5-7, Rivers’ experience and leadership could prove invaluable for a Colts team navigating troubled waters. According to NFL Network, while rookie Riley Leonard is considered the team’s starter moving forward, his knee injury could leave Brett Rypien as the only healthy quarterback option heading into Week 15’s challenging road game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The sudden quarterback crisis hit the Colts during their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars when Jones, who had already been playing through a broken fibula, suffered his Achilles injury in the first quarter. His frustration was palpable as cameras caught him slamming his helmet to the ground, recognizing the severity of the situation. For the Colts, this latest injury represents another setback in what has become an increasingly difficult season, especially as they’ve fallen into the bubble group of AFC teams fighting for playoff contention after their recent losing streak.
ESPN reports that while the Colts are interested in evaluating whether Rivers is physically prepared to return to NFL competition, the quarterback himself is still deciding if a comeback is what he wants at this stage of his life. The visit to Indianapolis suggests he’s giving serious consideration to the possibility, though nothing is certain until both parties agree on terms. If Rivers does return, he would join a small but notable group of quarterbacks who have come out of retirement to play again, including Tom Brady and Josh McCown. What makes Rivers’ potential return particularly remarkable is his age – at 44, he would be one of the oldest active players in the league.
For Colts fans, the possibility of seeing Rivers back in their team’s colors offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging season. His previous stint with the team was successful, and his familiarity with the organization could allow for a smoother transition than bringing in another veteran quarterback unfamiliar with their system. While there’s no guarantee that Rivers will decide to return or that he would immediately solve all of the Colts’ problems, his potential comeback represents an intriguing storyline in the final weeks of the NFL season. As the team prepares for their crucial matchup against the Seahawks, all eyes will be on Indianapolis to see if the grandfather and high school coach will once again don an NFL uniform and lead a playoff push.
