Philip Rivers is back. Yes, that Philip Rivers - the fiery, bolo tie-wearing quarterback who last played an NFL snap in 2020 and has since become a grandfather - is lacing them up again.
At 44 years old, he's officially signed to the Colts’ practice squad and could be starting under center this Sunday against the Seahawks. It’s the kind of comeback that feels like it belongs in a Hollywood script - but it’s happening in real time, and the Colts are all in.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a ceremonial signing or a nostalgia tour. Rivers reportedly impressed the Colts during his workout, enough to put him in serious contention to start just days after joining the team.
The urgency comes after a crushing blow to the Colts’ quarterback room - a season-ending Achilles injury to Daniel Jones. With the playoffs still within reach, Indianapolis needed a steady hand.
And there are few hands steadier than Rivers', even if they’ve been gripping a whistle instead of a football the past few years.
It's not just the Colts who are intrigued. Tom Brady, no stranger to the retirement-unretirement cycle, weighed in with a mix of humor and admiration.
“Who retires and then un-retires and then is ultimately going to retire again? Who does that?”
Brady joked during an appearance with Colin Cowherd. “That’s ridiculous for Philip to do that.”
And then, with the kind of respect only a fellow quarterback can give, Brady added: “I’m very excited to watch Philip play. If he’s out there, it’s just very cool.
It speaks to how much he loves the game and really what he’s able to do still.”
Brady then offered a bit of quarterback gospel: “This game is about, for the quarterback, from the neck up. We used to have a saying in Michigan, the mental is to the physical as four is to one at the quarterback position.
And that doesn’t really go away.” In other words, while the arm may lose a little zip and the legs might not move quite as fast, the mental processing - the reads, the anticipation, the leadership - stays sharp.
And if Rivers has been keeping that edge honed, he might just surprise a few people on Sunday.
Physically, the question is whether Rivers can take the hits, make the throws, and move well enough in the pocket to keep the offense on schedule. But mentally?
Brady seems to think he’s still got it. Rivers has stayed close to the game, coaching one of his son’s high school teams - and interestingly enough, running an offense that mirrors what the Colts are using now.
That’s no small thing. Familiarity with the system could help fast-track his readiness, especially given his prior connection with Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who worked with Rivers during their time together with the Chargers.
It’s worth noting that Rivers’ last NFL season - a one-year stint with the Colts in 2020 - was solid. He led the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth.
He wasn’t lighting up the stat sheet like a prime Patrick Mahomes, but he was efficient, composed, and brought veteran leadership to a young roster. Now, five years later, he’s being asked to do something similar - only this time, with even more improbability baked in.
Brady, now a minority owner of the Raiders, made it clear he’s not making a comeback himself - even if he joked that he could still lead a team on scoring drives if he knew the offense. But his admiration for Rivers’ return was genuine.
Half a decade ago, Rivers insisted he wouldn’t be playing into his 40s like Brady. And yet, here we are.
Why would Philip Rivers come out of retirement? The G.O.A.T can relate 🐐 @colincowherd @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/NBMoS5rrx4
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 11, 2025
The Colts, in need of a spark, are turning to a quarterback who’s older than 13 current NFL head coaches - including his own. But if Rivers can channel even a fraction of the savvy and command he once had, Sunday in Seattle could be one of the most compelling storylines of the season.
Football fans love a good comeback. And this one?
It’s got all the ingredients: a beloved veteran, a team in need, and a chance to defy Father Time one more time. Buckle up.