Philip Rivers to Start Again for Colts in Monday Night Matchup vs. 49ers
The Philip Rivers comeback tour rolls on. Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that the 44-year-old quarterback will get the start for a second straight week as Indianapolis prepares for a tough Week 16 showdown against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Rivers, who was coaxed out of retirement just last week, made his return under center in Sunday’s narrow 16-15 loss to the Seahawks. And while the result didn’t go the Colts’ way, Rivers’ performance was more than respectable-especially for a quarterback who hadn’t taken an NFL snap in nearly five years.
He completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. It wasn’t flashy, but it was steady-vintage Rivers in many ways.
Let’s not forget, this is a guy who’s been out of the league since 2020, trading NFL playbooks for high school game plans as a coach. Now, with the Colts in playoff contention and dealing with quarterback injuries, they’ve turned to a familiar face-and Rivers is answering the call.
This isn’t just a nostalgia act. Rivers is one of the most durable and productive quarterbacks of his era.
Drafted in the first round back in 2004 by the Giants and then famously traded to the Chargers for Eli Manning, Rivers built a 17-year career defined by toughness, leadership, and a whole lot of passing yards. He played 244 games, threw for over 63,000 yards, and racked up 421 touchdowns.
He also earned eight Pro Bowl nods along the way.
After 16 seasons with the Chargers, Rivers signed a one-year deal with the Colts in 2020, helping guide them to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. He retired after that season, seemingly closing the book on a Hall-of-Fame-caliber career. But football has a way of pulling certain players back in-and Rivers, with his trademark sidearm release and competitive fire, still has enough left in the tank to give the Colts a fighting chance.
Now, Indianapolis faces a major test on Monday night. The 49ers bring one of the league’s most physical defenses, and Rivers will need to be sharp to keep the Colts’ postseason hopes alive. But if Week 15 was any indication, he’s not just here for the farewell tour-he’s here to compete.
And really, would you expect anything less from Philip Rivers?