NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Philip Rivers Comeback is official.
The Indianapolis Colts have named the 44-year-old grandfather as the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
It will be Rivers’ first game since 2020.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) drops back to pass during practice at the Colts training facility in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
Rivers announced his retirement from the NFL after that season and turned his attention to coaching high school football. In 2023, there were reports that he was eyeing a comeback, but nothing ever came of it.
However, as Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon and rookie Riley Leonard injured his knee after replacing the veteran, coupled with Anthony Richardson’s injury, the Colts didn’t have many places to go.
“I had no hope of playing again. I kind of 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 about it excited me. It’s one of those deals where a door opens and you either walk through it and find out if you can do it, or run from it. I know there’s risk involved, but the only way to find out is to try.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts training facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Rivers added that he was watching the Colts play when Jones fell to the ground. He admitted it occurred to him that at some point he might get a call from Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen.
“When that happened, I was like, ‘What the hell?’ How crazy that would be at the quarterback position, I have to admit, I thought, ‘I wonder if Shane is going to call,'” Rivers said. “Immediately, the competitor in you gets excited.”
Depending on how many games Rivers plays, he could surpass 64,000 career passing yards. He currently has 421 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 64.9.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) on the sideline during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 6, 2020. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Indianapolis, which started 7-1 but has since lost four of its last five, faces the Seattle Seahawks trying to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
