Philip Rivers comes out of retirement, joins Colts practice squad at age 44
INDIANAPOLIS, (KYMA-KECY-TV)- Philip Rivers is officially back in the NFL.
On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts signed the 44-year-old quarterback to their practice squad, pulling the former Chargers star out of retirement and into one of the most chaotic quarterback situations in the league. The move was first reported by NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.
The timing wasn’t subtle Rivers worked out for the team on Monday, his 44th birthday. By Tuesday afternoon, he was a Colt again.
Indianapolis didn’t make the call for nostalgia. They made it out of necessity.
The Colts are 8-5 and clinging to their playoff hopes, sitting just outside the AFC’s top seven. And their quarterback room has been shredded by injuries:
With four games left — all against teams with winning records — the Colts needed someone who could step in immediately. Rivers’ role for now is to support Leonard and prepare as a potential emergency option, with the team expecting him to participate in practice on Wednesday.
Rivers hasn’t played an NFL snap since January 2021. After leaving the league, he transitioned into coaching high school football, running the offense for the team his son plays on. But he never closed the door on a return, and his longtime relationship with Colts head coach Shane Steichen played a major role in this decision.
Steichen coached Rivers for years with the Chargers, working as his quarterbacks coach and later as interim offensive coordinator. The two remained close, often talking football and film even after Rivers retired. That familiarity gives Indianapolis confidence that the veteran can catch up quickly.
There’s also a Hall of Fame wrinkle: Rivers is currently a semifinalist for the Class of 2026. If he appears on the Colts’ active roster, his eligibility resets and he won’t be considered again until 2031. But if he stays on the practice squad without elevation, his candidacy remains unchanged.
The Colts face one of the most difficult schedules of any playoff contender. They visit the 10-3 Seahawks this week, then host the 49ers, Jaguars and Texans — all 9-4 or 8-5 teams fighting for playoff position.
Rivers knows Indianapolis well. His only season with the Colts came in 2020, when he went 11-5 and led the team to the playoffs — their most recent postseason appearance. In that season, he threw for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a 97.0 passer rating.
Since he left, the Colts have cycled through eight starting quarterbacks. Now, the franchise’s revolving door brings back one of the most decorated passers of his era — an eight-time Pro Bowler and the Chargers’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
The question now is simple: how much does a 44-year-old quarterback have left?
We may find out soon. The Colts don’t need Rivers to be the player he was in his prime — they just need stability during a playoff push and someone capable of managing games if they have to turn to him.
Rivers has always been known for his competitiveness, toughness and leadership. And now, four years after throwing what many assumed was his final NFL pass, he’s back in uniform with a chance — however small — to help Indianapolis fight its way into January.
The Colts are about to discover whether the Ol’ Man has one more run in him.
