Why Philip Rivers, 44, left ‘comfortable life’ for shock NFL chance with Colts
It took Daniel Jones to suffer an Achilles injury and backup signal-caller Riley Leonard’s status to be put in question for Colts coach Shane Steichen to go into his emergency quarterback contacts.
In a stunning move on Tuesday, the Colts signed long-retired Philip Rivers to the practice squad at 44 years old. The quarterback, who was in the league for 17 years, talks weekly with Steichen since they last worked together in 2019 with the Chargers.
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By signing with the practice squad and attending a team workout on Monday, the eight-time Pro Bowl selection is available to play as soon as Sunday afternoon against the Seahawks and immediately becomes the league’s oldest player.
How did Steichen convince Rivers, who — per ESPN — has “a comfortable life on the Alabama coast, enjoying time spent with his 10 kids and new grandson,” to come out of retirement?
In an attempt to make the decision the right one for both parties, the Colts offered familiarity.
For Rivers, that was enough, as he explained in his opening press conference on Wednesday.
“As simple as it can be, [it’s] a coach that I love and an organization that I really enjoy being with,” he said. “Mr. Irsay believed in me that year in 2020 when it didn’t go so good in 2019, and the teammates that I was able to play with. Fourteen of them are still here.
“Training room is the same. PR guys are the same. Equipment room is the same. They wanted me and I try to keep it as simple as that. It’s a game I thought I was done playing, certainly. I wasn’t holding on to any hope of playing again. I kinda thought that ship had sailed, but something about it excited me.
“Kinda one of those deals, the door opens and you either walk through it and find out if you get to do it, or run from it. I know there is risk involved obviously of what may or may not happen. The only way to find out is just going for it and just almost felt like it was a gift — another opportunity to play and cut it loose with your guys in the game that you love to play. The dream that you got to live, you may get some bonus time. I kept it as simple as that in my mind and here I stand.”
Rivers was immediately open to the idea of returning to the team he had his swan song in 2020, ESPN reported.
It is unclear when the Colts first discussed the idea of bringing back Rivers — but one team source told ESPN that the idea was at least floated when backup Anthony Richardson suffered an orbital fracture in October.
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“It was like, ‘if s–t goes south, would he be willing?” said the source of initial thoughts on a Rivers reunion, per ESPN. “Shane and Philip are close, so I don’t think this really surprised anyone.”
Either way, Rivers was surprised at the chance to get on the field again at his age. He admitted he doesn’t know what he weighs currently, and that it is “not what it was when he walked off the field in Buffalo” in his last game — a wild-card match against the Bills on Jan 9, 2021.
“But, I’ll follow that up with, I ain’t ever run away from anybody anyway,” he said, warranting a lot of laughter in the press room.
After throwing 20 interceptions and posting the second-lowest QBR of his career (50.5), the Chargers released Rivers in 2019 following his 16th season with the team.
He landed with the Colts in 2020 and threw 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to lead Indianapolis to an 11-5 season and the team’s last playoff appearance.
Following the Colts workout on Monday that had Rivers go through standard drills such as throwing on the move and run-pass options, several team sources said “he can still spin it.” A separate team source said, “I’d still take him at this stage over most 22- to 23-year-old [backups],” per ESPN.
Rivers could have a chance to prove that as soon as Sunday, as Steichen did not rule out the possibility of him starting against the Seahawks with Leonard’s status unclear.
The Colts are currently 8-5 and on the outside of the playoff race following Sunday’s 36-19 loss to the AFC South rival Jaguars, which saw Jones go down with the devastating injury.
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