In a league that’s always been about youth, speed, and the next big thing, the 2025 NFL season is flipping the script. This year, it’s not just a man’s game-it’s starting to look like an old man’s league, and honestly, it’s been a wild ride watching it unfold.
Let’s start with the most recent twist: Philip Rivers, all 44 years of him, is back under center. That’s right-the Colts have pulled Rivers out of retirement, nearly four full seasons after he last took a snap in 2020.
It’s the kind of move that makes you double-check the calendar. But in a season where Joe Flacco earned a starting job in Cleveland and got traded within the division for another one, and Aaron Rodgers has the Steelers sitting at 7-5 and leading the AFC North at age 42, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised anymore.
#Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers reacts to Philip Rivers’ return (question by @jhathhorn): pic.twitter.com/YCLxwIov6c
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) December 11, 2025
Rodgers, who’s usually the oldest guy in the room, couldn’t help but smile when asked about Rivers’ return. “I’m not the oldest guy in the league,” he joked.
“Love that.” But then he turned reflective, offering up a mix of admiration and humor that only a fellow veteran quarterback could deliver.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Rodgers said. “Because he’s been out for, I believe, four full seasons, plus part of this season. I was laughing because a couple of my buddies hit me up asking what I would do in that situation and I said, without missing a beat, ‘I’m retired, I’m staying retired.’”
That’s Rodgers being Rodgers-self-aware, sharp, and honest. But he didn’t stop there. He made it clear just how much respect he has for Rivers, calling him one of the fiercest competitors he’s ever watched.
“Big credit to Phil,” Rodgers continued. “I’ve been a fan of his forever.
I’ve known him a little bit over the years. I just love the way that he competes and plays-again, not the most gifted player-but cerebral as all get out, hilarious trash talker, and I wish him nothing but the best.
I hope he goes out and it’s just like riding a bike and he can jump right back in the saddle, and I expect him to.”
That’s high praise from a future Hall of Famer-and a reminder that while Rivers may not have had the flashiest arm or the most athletic frame, he’s always had the mental edge and the fire that made him a nightmare to play against.
With Rivers back in action, the NFL now has five active players aged 40 or older-though that number dipped slightly when 41-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis was waived by the Broncos on Thursday. Still, that’s a remarkable stat in a sport that’s notoriously brutal on the body and rarely kind to aging athletes.
But here we are: Flacco slinging it, Rodgers leading a division, Rivers stepping back into the huddle. It's not just nostalgia-it’s production. These aren’t ceremonial roster spots; these guys are contributing, competing, and in some cases, winning.
So yeah, maybe 2025 is the year the NFL became an old man’s game. And if you're a fan of gritty comebacks, second (or third) acts, and quarterbacks who refuse to hang 'em up quietly, this season’s been a gift.
Don’t be surprised if Rivers adds another chapter to his already memorable career. In a league obsessed with what’s next, the old guard is reminding everyone they’re not done just yet.