After a successful workout, Philip Rivers has lined up an unexpected comeback. The 44-year-old quarterback is set to finish the 2025 season with the Colts. 
Team and player agreed to a practice squad deal on Tuesday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Indianapolis thus has an experienced (to say the least) option at the quarterback spot as the team looks to reach the playoffs. This move comes in the aftermath of Daniel Jones suffering an Achilles tear.
[RELATED: Riley Leonard Injury Could Move Rivers To Week 15 Start]
Rivers’ workout took place last night, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. He adds things went well, which has of course been confirmed by today’s signing. As the Colts plan their immediate future under center, they could find themselves relying on a passer whose last NFL game was played on January 9, 2021 relatively soon. Of course, that final Rivers contest came as a member of the Colts.
Following a storied Chargers career (which included time spent with current Colts head coach Shane Steichen), the eight-time Pro Bowler played his last NFL campaign with Indianapolis. That 2020 season produced a record of 11-5 and it marked the last time the Colts made the playoffs. If another postseason berth is to be possible this time around, Rivers could find himself playing a part.
Jones – added this past spring on a one-year free agent deal – enjoyed career highs in several categories prior to going down. A long-term Colts commitment may well have been on the horizon, but as his attention turns to recovery it remains to be seen if that will still come to bear. Meanwhile, backup Anthony Richardson is still on IR as he continues to deal with an orbital bone fracture. This Rivers signing is a strong indication Indianapolis feels Richardson will not be cleared to return any time soon.
That leaves Leonard and practice squad veteran Brett Rypien as the Colts’ other QB options. The team could stick with Leonard for at least one start, but with a record of 8-5 there is little (if any) margin for losses over the final month of the season. Deciding Rivers – who is now a grandfather – is the best path to a playoff berth would certainly represent an interesting choice on the part of Indianapolis. At a minimum, he will make for a notable taxi squad addition.
Whether or not the former NFL passing leader finds his way onto the active roster will be worth monitoring for a number of reasons. Rivers is currently in his first year of eligibility for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he is among the 26 semifinalists for the 2026 class. As Rapoport notes, that will not change if Rivers remains on the practice squad. Should a promotion to the active roster take place, however, his five-year waiting period for HOF eligibility will reset. That will be the case regardless of if Rivers sees any playing time or not.
The Colts face a daunting schedule over the final stretch, with games remaining against the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars and Texans. Finding offensive success against each of those opponents will be challenging, but a comeback attempt from an unlikely passer could become part of Indianapolis’ 2025 season.
This is the wildest thing to happen in my Twitter timeline since trump 2016 win.
That’s funny because Bidenjust signed to the White House practice squad.
If he was willing to do this how is the Colts 5 years after his last NFL game the one to get him out lmao. Had to have been better situations since then
What situation would be better than this? He knows the coach, knows the organization, and is joining a team with a winning record, a good offensive line, and one of the best sets of offensive weapons in football. And he doesn’t have to go through a whole season of wear and tear to take a shot at a playoff run.
… And he is great physical shape. That age thing man so overrated until not 🤭
Best shape of his life. Been working out for 5 years.
Working out the wife fer sure …
Good man
I’m having flashbacks of George Blanda.
I want the Jets’ draft picks to be high, but man it would be cool to watch Rivers come out of retirement and make a run. This is wild and I love it.
The man hasn’t played in 5 years. I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you
Oh I’m not *expecting* him to make a run. But it would be amazing to see if he did.
Wait what? Those 36 kids must be driving him nuts.
@phillyballers. Probably the high-school kids he’s coaching.
This is insane lmao
And just like thanks, just like that, Aaron Rodgers was young again.
Checked calendar. Not April 1st. Confused.
To be fair, based on your posting history, confused seems to be your daily state of mind. Maybe football isn’t your thing.
This is like Batman facing Bane in their first showdown
Hoping for Batman but getting Bateman?
Andrew Luck would’ve been more fun
at least Desmond Ridder’s mom still loves him.
Source?
Good lord, talk about desperate.
How long has it been since an actual Grandpa played QB in the league? That alone makes me want to see him elevated from the practice squad in a week or two.
Brett Favre did it when he was with the Vikings.
Vinny Testeverde wasn’t available?
Ugh, too soon!
Testaverde played at 44 as well. Call him up!
Super Bowl bound
As insane as this is, I really want to see him start some games. This is wild. I read that Ryan Tannehill said last month that he was pretty much done with the NFL, but he would have been much better suited for this comeback than someone who last played 5 years ago.
Maybe Philip Rivers just wanted to reset his HOF clock.
Fair point. May be too crowded for him to be a first ballot, he’ll wait for the field to thin at QB.
$10,000 says Phil is first ballot…
@mustard tiger. He knows the offense. Reich,sirianni, steichen were on the chargers staff. I think steichen might’ve been on the Colts when he last played. But yeah maybe he a fridge hall of famer maybe it makes more sense to reset it, but he probably wants a ring
Eli Manning and Philip Rivers are the same age. Was Eli not willing to come back? LOL
He’s the Steve DeBerg of our generation!
George Blanda would like a word.
Yep, people forget he did the same thing helping Reeves out with the Falcons. I think he was 45.
More going on than possibly playing QB again. He might want to just be a practice body while helping the other QBs. A favor to Steichen. He may be ready to assume an opportunity to join the coaching staff soon as well, unless coaching high school is more rewarding. Great way to work his way back into the league. He wont get elected soon anyway, if they decide to activate him. I still cant believe they didnt sign Taylor Heinicke?
notre dame takes another hit .. going with a washed up 44yr old over last years irish starter .. has to sting just a little bit
Due to the injustice that is his impending replacement by a 44 year old retired QB, Riley Leonard has announced that he’s opting out of further 2025 games and will instead begin to prepare for the 2026 season.
Pro Football Reference needs to add “Grandpa”
to the nicknames section
of his page…..
Really surprised Tannehill didn’t enter the discussion…unless he declined the opportunity.
Based on last nights game this is a move the Eagles should’ve made.
That game was Atrocious. They played a game of Hot potatoe pigskin an nobody wanted the ball it seemed.
So many turnovers
Pure booty is what it was.
Philip Rivers is a grandfather (2024) shows how soft the league become for QB’s
And if this doesn’t work out they can look to bring back Andrew Luck.
Pearsall: shot —> came back to play
Robinson: shot —> came back to play
Richardson: hit with exercise band —> b*tched out
btw: has Cam Newton crashed out yet?
The Colts went from Indy Jones circa the Lost Ark to Indy Jones circa the Dial of Destiny.
This makes as much sense as brain dead Biden getting into the White House
I guess Vinny Testaverde didn’t return their calls.
Guess the rumors of trying out Kyle Trask as an option may have been untrue. Good or bad Trask was a decent College QB an sat backup to Tom Brady an Baker Mayfield. I likely would’ve signed Trask an gave him a try.
Oh my!
I don’t like this. Reminds me of Gordie Howe playing in the NHL at age 52. Nobody wanted to bodycheck Howe because they feared they might permanently injure him. Rivers is Hall of Fame bound so he should stay retired.
This could be Rivers Keenu Reeves’s moment like in the Replacements
This deserves an upvote for not mentioning those terrible John Wick movies 🙂
while you mention them! doh!
Is he in need of the money? Why would he delay his path to hall of fame possibility for one lost season?
he probably likes to play football idk
Some people can’t separate their heart and their head. Happens as you get older.
Every other contender should just pluck him off the colts practice squad force the colts to go with Leonard. I don’t know what to expect from a 44 year old who hasn’t played in 5 years but cut the colts out now if your the steelers chiefs or another team on the fringe of the playoffs
Wonder what # Rivers will wear given Jones is #17
This pretty much sums up the state of QB’s. Both Flacco and Rivers can get work, just not young guys. When you transfer annually to new schools, you don’t sit & learn. QB play will be average at best for the foreseeable future. At the same time, NCCA is a multibillionaire operation, I understand why the portal and NIL is important for the (adult all over 18 years old) students.
At least the kapernick phase is over. Thank God.
Joe Flacco and his agent ought to hire an Intellectual Property Attorney and gets a portion of these contracts that are about to be hotter than West Texas chili.