Philip Rivers largely impressed (considering expectations) during his three-game return to the NFL. After attempting to rescue the Colts’ season late in 2025, though, he will not continue his comeback into next year. 
In the wake of Daniel Jones suffering an Achilles tear, head coach Shane Steichen reached out to Rivers about unretiring. A deal was quickly worked out, and the 44-year-old made three consecutive starts. Indianapolis lost all three games, ending the team’s chances of reaching the playoffs. Rivers will not start in the season finale, and he will not attempt to land a spot with the Colts or any other team in 2026.
“There’s no chance,” the eight-time Pro Bowler said during an appearance on the Up & Adams show when asked about continuing his career (video link). “It was a place I’d been, a team I was familiar with, the offense was exactly the same, a coach I knew, it was all those things, our football season was over, all those things made it the perfect storm… This was a fun three-week blur that nobody saw coming, including myself. And that’ll be it.”
Rivers confirmed, to little surprise, his attention will return to his high school coaching duties. His two eldest sons will be together in 2026 on the team he coaches. The Colts, meanwhile, will look to retain Jones after the success he enjoyed on a one-year deal this season. Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard – who will start this week – figures to remain in the team’s plans moving forward. The same may not be true of Anthony Richardson, who looms as a candidate for a change of scenery depending on the nature of his trade market.
Rivers was a semifinalist for this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Returning to the NFL reset his five-year eligibility clock, however. A lengthy wait will now ensue to see if he the longtime Chargers QB1 ultimately winds up in Canton.
On a few occasions prior to 2025, Rivers’ name emerged as a candidate for a post-retirement run of action. It appeared as though his window of opportunity on that front had closed before the Colts gig became available. Now, Rivers will reprise his role as a coach without giving further consideration to another short-term NFL stint.
Thanks for giving it a shot Phillip, almost brought the team into the dance. Was fun seeing you play again and as a Charger fan would have been sweet if there could have been a duel in the playoffs!
I’m sure Philip will be approached about writing a book. There’s also a good chance Hollywood will release “A River Runs Through It – A Football Story”
You can’t be mad at Rivers and his tenacity, he went out there and did some stuff most QBs today can’t. genuinely another great fold to a good football season.
Wish he got a win, but damn was it cathartic to see Rivers out there one last time
Maybe it’ll boost his HOF chances who knows lol
He’ll be back someday
Nice try and story, but they still lost every game with him. Should have given Leonard the experience. He could actually move unlike Rivers which limited the playbook more.
Awesome career. Cool footnote to a hall of fame plaque.
It was a great feel good story, and perhaps sold a few tickets and all… but if a rookie had put up the numbers, gotten the results and showed the flaws that Rivers did, this entire board would be filled with cries of “Bust! Bust!”
If anything, it showed just how difficult it has become to be a successful NFL quarterback.