Philip Rivers is coming back to play more football at age 44, because he doesn’t feel he’s quite done yet and because he knows the Indianapolis Colts need help right now at the position.
The former NC State star retired following the 2020 COVID season, which he ironically spent with the Colts after starring for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers from 2004-19. Now, he’s going to give it another go with the Colts, signing with the team’s practice squad on Tuesday afternoon after a workout with Indianapolis on Monday night.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported sources that confirmed Rivers was indeed returning to play football despite having been retired since that 2020 season and despite being a grandfather. Rivers has been coaching high school football in Alabama since 2021, but he saw an opportunity with the last franchise he played for and wants to see if he can help the Colts’ suddenly-dire quarterback situation.
The Colts are still firmly in playoff contention in the AFC at 8-5 despite a recent slide, but they are really banged up right now behind center, with the latest domino to fall being previous starter Daniel Jones, who suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday and is done for the season. Riley Leonard, who came in for Jones in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, also was injured, suffering a knee injury, and his availability for this week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks is in doubt.
With all of that drama circulating, Rivers doesn’t seem so far away from actually seeing the field this season. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2004 draft also has a deep connection with Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who was Rivers’ position coach and offensive coordinator during his dominant days with the Chargers.
Interestingly, if Rivers eventually signs with the Colts’ active roster, his Hall of Fame clock resets to 5 years, so his wait to be inducted into Canton would be a lot longer.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
