Philip Rivers Is Back: Colts Turn to 44-Year-Old Legend Amid QB Uncertainty
Well, here we are. It’s December, the AFC playoff picture is heating up, and the Indianapolis Colts are turning to a familiar face-one who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in five years.
Philip Rivers, the longtime Chargers star and Colts’ 2020 starter, is trending toward starting this Sunday in Seattle. Yes, that Philip Rivers.
At 44 years old.
The Colts are sitting at 8-5, just one game behind the Jaguars in the AFC South, and they’re in desperate need of stability under center. Daniel Jones, who had taken over the starting role, went down with a torn Achilles.
Rookie backup Riley Leonard has been battling a strained knee ligament, leaving his availability in question. So, Indianapolis made a move that’s as bold as it is unexpected-they brought Rivers out of retirement.
And the timeline? It’s nothing short of surreal.
Just two weeks ago, Rivers was coaching St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, where his team lost in the state semifinals.
The very next day, he and his son Gunner-an emerging 4-star QB prospect in the 2027 class-were spotted at NC State’s rivalry win over UNC. Then, on Monday, Rivers threw for the Colts.
By Tuesday, he was officially signed to the practice squad.
Talk about a whirlwind.
Riley Leonard, the rookie out of Duke, had been preparing for what looked like his first NFL start. And despite the sudden change in plans, he’s handled the situation with maturity beyond his years. Speaking to reporters, Leonard reflected on the moment with a calm, grounded perspective:
“Something we’ve been talking about in Bible study is a Greek term. It’s called Kairos versus Kronos.
So Kairos is God’s timing, and Kronos is when we think our timing should happen. Who am I to question God and his timing for my life?”
Even when asked about potentially losing the starting job to Rivers, Leonard didn’t flinch:
“I’m only a rookie, but I’ve learned in this business - don’t have an opinion on it. Just excited to be my best. … He’s obviously a good friend, a mentor of mine.”
That kind of response says a lot about Leonard’s character-and it also highlights what Rivers brings beyond the stat sheet. He’s not just a quarterback; he’s a mentor, a leader, and a guy who’s been in every situation imaginable on a football field.
Let’s not forget what Rivers accomplished during his 17-year NFL career. He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers before finishing things off in Indy in 2020.
That year, at age 39, he led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth, throwing for over 4,100 yards and 24 touchdowns. Not bad for a guy many thought was done.
Now, he’s being asked to do it again-at 44.
Rivers hasn’t played in the league since that 2020 season, but he hasn’t exactly been idle. He’s been the head coach at St.
Michael since 2021, coaching his son and staying close to the game. And if you know anything about Rivers, you know he’s never been short on competitiveness or football IQ.
The arm may not be what it was, but the mind? Still elite.
And the résumé speaks for itself. Eight-time Pro Bowler.
Sixth all-time in passing touchdowns. Eighth in passing yards.
Ninth in completions. A semifinalist for the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame class.
The man’s legacy is already etched in NFL history.
Back in his college days at NC State, Rivers rewrote the school’s record books. He still holds career marks in passing yards, completions, and touchdowns.
He was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2000, and the ACC Player of the Year in 2003. From Raleigh to San Diego to Indianapolis, he’s always been a gamer.
So now, with four games left in the regular season and playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Colts are turning to the man who once led them to the postseason. It’s a wild twist.
A storybook return. And maybe-just maybe-there’s one more chapter left in the Philip Rivers saga.
Does he have another run in him? We’re about to find out.