49ers Set to Face a First: “Grandpa Rivers” Under Center for Colts on Monday Night
In a twist nobody saw coming, the San Francisco 49ers are about to line up against a quarterback who’s not just a veteran - he’s a grandfather.
Yes, you read that right.
When the Niners head to Indianapolis for their Week 16 Monday Night Football showdown, they’ll be facing 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who came out of retirement and, somewhere along the way, also became a grandpa. It’s a sentence that feels more suited for a flag football reunion game than a high-stakes December NFL matchup, but here we are.
Rivers, who last played in 2020, dusted off the cleats to help a Colts team scrambling after losing starter Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury. And while the idea of a retired quarterback returning to the field at 44 might sound like a gimmick, Rivers proved he’s not just along for the ride. In Week 15, he held his own in a tough loss to the Seattle Seahawks - showing enough poise and command to remind everyone why he was one of the league’s most durable and productive signal-callers for nearly two decades.
So yes, the 49ers are preparing for a quarterback who’s older than some of their coaches - but make no mistake, they’re preparing for a real threat.
A League That’s Built for the Young - With a Few Exceptions
Football, by nature, is a young man’s game. The average NFL career barely stretches beyond three years, and once players hit 30, they’re often viewed as past their prime. That’s what makes Rivers’ return - and his new “Grandpa Rivers” title - so surreal.
But believe it or not, Rivers isn’t the first grandfather to take snaps in an NFL game.
That distinction belongs to Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback who became a grandfather in 2010 while still suiting up for the Minnesota Vikings. And the 49ers? They almost had the chance to face “Grandpa Favre” themselves.
A Near Miss with NFL Grandfather History
Back in 2009, the Niners traveled to Minnesota for an early season matchup against Favre and the Vikings. It was a memorable game - though probably not for the right reasons if you're a 49ers fan.
Minnesota pulled out the win, and while Favre wasn’t technically a grandfather yet, he was right on the doorstep. His daughter gave birth the following year, making him the first known grandpa to play in an NFL game.
So San Francisco missed that milestone by just a season.
This time, there’s no almost. When the 49ers take the field on Monday night, they’ll officially be facing a grandfather at quarterback - a first in franchise history.
What It Means for the 49ers
From a game-planning perspective, the Niners can’t afford to treat this like a novelty. Rivers may have a few more gray hairs and a growing family tree, but he still brings over 60,000 career passing yards, a deep understanding of the game, and a competitive fire that hasn’t faded with age.
He’s not the long-term answer for the Colts, but in a must-win December game, he’s more than capable of making things interesting - especially against a 49ers defense that’s had its share of ups and downs this season.
So while the headlines might focus on the “grandpa” angle, the reality is this: the 49ers are walking into a primetime game against a quarterback who’s been here before - and who might just have one more surprise left in him.
Whether it’s a feel-good story or a trap game in the making, Monday night in Indy is shaping up to be one of the more unexpected matchups of the season.