Philip Rivers, 44, officially the Colts’ starter, will play in his first NFL game in nearly five years.
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The return of Philip Rivers is official.
The Indianapolis Colts have chosen the 44-year-old grandfather as their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
It will be Rivers’ first game since 2020.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers drops back to pass Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts’ training complex in Indianapolis. (Image)
Rivers announced his retirement from the NFL after that season and dedicated himself to coaching high school football. There were reports in 2023 that he was considering a comeback, but nothing ever materialized.
However, after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon and rookie Riley Leonard injured his knee after replacing the veteran, coupled with the injury to Anthony Richardson, the Colts didn’t have many places to turn.
“I had no hope of ever playing again. I thought the ship had sailed,” Rivers, who played 16 seasons for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Colts in 2020, said earlier this week.
“But something excited me. It’s one of those deals where a door opens, you walk through it and find out if you can do it or you run away from it. I know it’s a risk, but the only way to find out is to try.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip River, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts’ training complex in Indianapolis. (Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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Rivers added that he was watching the Colts game at the time Jones fell to the turf. He admitted that it crossed his mind that he might eventually get a call from Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen.
“When that happened, in my mind I thought, ‘What the hell?’ How crazy would this be at the quarterback position. I have to admit, I thought, ‘I wonder if Shane will call,'” Rivers said. “Immediately, the competitor in you gets excited.”
Depending on how many games Rivers plays, he could eclipse his 64,000 career passing yards. He has thrown for 421 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 64.9.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers on the sidelines during a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 6, 2020. (Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports)
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Indianapolis, which started 7-1 but has since lost four of its last five games, will face the Seattle Seahawks to try to keep its playoff hopes alive.
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