Colts Call on a Familiar Face: Philip Rivers Returns to Indianapolis Amid Quarterback Crisis
In a move that’s equal parts desperation and nostalgia, the Indianapolis Colts are turning back the clock-and the playbook-by signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers to their practice squad. Yes, that Philip Rivers.
The same one who led the Colts to their last playoff appearance five years ago. The same one who’s been coaching high school football in Alabama.
And now, the same one who might just suit up again in the NFL.
This isn’t a feel-good retirement tour. It’s a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation for a Colts team that’s still clinging to playoff hopes at 8-5 but just watched its quarterback depth chart collapse in a matter of days.
Quarterback Carousel Spins Out of Control
The Colts’ quarterback room has been decimated. Daniel Jones, their starter, tore his Achilles early in Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville.
Backup Riley Leonard-elevated to the No. 2 spot only because Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve-came out of that game with a knee injury that revealed itself after the fact. Suddenly, Indianapolis was staring down the barrel of December football with no healthy quarterbacks and no easy answers.
Options were thin. Most viable quarterbacks are already rostered, and even practice squad targets are tough to lure this late in the year.
Case in point: former Colts QB Sam Ehlinger reportedly chose to stay in Denver rather than return to Indy. That left the Colts with veteran Brett Rypien on the practice squad and little else.
So, they picked up the phone.
Rivers Returns: A Familiar Voice in the Huddle
Enter Rivers. The 17-year NFL veteran had been coaching at St.
Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama, where his team just wrapped up a deep playoff run. But he’s stayed close to the game-and close to the Colts.
Rivers has a long-standing relationship with head coach Shane Steichen, dating back to their days together with the Chargers. And the Colts still remember what he brought to the table in 2020: 4,169 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and a 97.0 passer rating while leading the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. That was the best quarterback play Indianapolis had seen since Andrew Luck.
After that season, there were conversations about bringing him back. Then-head coach Frank Reich wanted it.
GM Chris Ballard was open to it. But Rivers, at 39, decided to walk away-opting to fulfill a lifelong dream of coaching his sons, just as his own father had done for him.
Still, Rivers never completely shut the door on a return. In fact, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan once said Rivers would’ve started the Super Bowl for the 49ers in 2023 had they made it past the Eagles with their quarterbacks all sidelined. That didn’t happen-but now, two years later, the Colts are in a similarly dire spot.
From Mentor to Emergency Option
Rivers already has a connection with Leonard, who trained with the veteran quarterback in Alabama before his final college season and again ahead of the NFL Draft. Their relationship adds another layer of familiarity to this reunion, and it’s not lost on the Colts’ decision-makers.
If Leonard can’t go this weekend against a tough Seahawks defense-one that ranks top 10 across most major categories-Rivers could be in line to start. Rypien is another option, but let’s be honest: Rivers didn’t come out of retirement just to hold a clipboard.
And while his return could delay his Hall of Fame eligibility-he was first eligible in 2025-it’s clear Rivers is answering a call from one of his former teams and one of his closest coaching allies. That says something about the man, and about the situation in Indy.
High Risk, High Reward?
Make no mistake: this is a gamble. Rivers hasn’t taken an NFL snap in five years.
No one knows exactly what he has left in the tank. But the Colts believe that even a 44-year-old Rivers, fresh off a high school season, is a better option than what’s currently on the market.
It’s a bold move, and maybe even a long shot. But in a season where everything has gone sideways at quarterback, Indianapolis is betting that a familiar face can provide a steady hand-and maybe even a little magic down the stretch.
For now, the Colts are still in the playoff hunt. And if Rivers does take the field, it’ll be one of the most unexpected-and compelling-storylines of the NFL season.