Philip Rivers ‘excited’ but Colts’ QB situation still fluid
Rivers Returns: Colts Legend Answers Call Amid Quarterback Crisis
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts are experiencing a football fairytale. Five years after hanging up his cleats, Philip Rivers, the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback, is back in the NFL, answering an emergency call from head coach Shane Steichen. The improbable return comes after a devastating Achilles injury to starting quarterback Daniel Jones during Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and concerns surrounding the health of backup Riley Leonard.
Rivers, who retired in 2021 after a stellar 17-year career, was watching the Colts-Jaguars game when Jones went down. “I saw the injury live,” Rivers told reporters Wednesday. “I feel terrible for Daniel… And I have to admit, I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if Shane will call.’”
A Familiar Connection Rekindled
Steichen did call, and Rivers responded with a characteristic blend of enthusiasm and pragmatism. After discussing the opportunity with his family and trusted advisors, Rivers contacted the Colts on Tuesday morning. Steichen recounted the conversation with a grin: “I said, ‘What do you think?’ He said, ‘Dadgummit, let’s freaking go.’”
The reunion is particularly poignant given the strong relationship between Rivers and Steichen. Steichen served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Chargers during Rivers’ final six seasons, including a stint as interim offensive coordinator in 2019. Much of Steichen’s offensive scheme remains rooted in the system Rivers mastered during their time together, offering a significant advantage in a rapid reintegration.
“That’s a big deal to be able to see that call sheet Tuesday morning and be able to know what every play is,” Rivers explained. This familiarity drastically reduces the learning curve, allowing him to focus on the physical demands of returning to the field.
The Physical Challenge and a Renewed Passion
The biggest question surrounding Rivers’ return isn’t his knowledge of the game, but his ability to withstand the physical toll. At 42, Rivers acknowledges the challenge. “I’m trying to pick it back up,” he said. “I’ve still been very into it since I’ve been gone [coaching high school and training draft prospects]. But, yeah, it is a physical game and it’s fast and dudes are big and fast, just like they were. So, shoot, you take it a day at a time.”
However, Rivers insists he feels good and is energized by being back in the Colts’ facility. His decision, he says, stems from a persistent love for the game. “Football is a game I love to play, a game that I thought I was done playing. Certainly, I wasn’t really hanging on to any hope of playing again. But something about it excited me. And it’s kind of one of those deals; the door opens and you can either walk through it and find out if you can do it or run from it.”
A League Facing a Quarterback Crisis
Rivers’ return isn’t happening in a vacuum. The NFL is currently grappling with a concerning trend of quarterback injuries. According to data from the Spotrac NFL Injury Tracker, as of December 13, 2025, over 20 starting or significant backup quarterbacks have missed games due to injury this season. This surge in injuries has highlighted the vulnerability of the position and the importance of depth – a need the Colts are now attempting to address with a veteran presence.
The situation also underscores the increasing physical demands placed on NFL quarterbacks. A 2023 study by the National Institutes of Health found that NFL quarterbacks experience a concussion rate 2.5 times higher than other positions, and are also susceptible to shoulder, knee, and ankle injuries. The league has implemented rule changes aimed at improving player safety, but injuries remain a persistent concern.
Hall of Fame Implications and the Bigger Picture
While the possibility of a Hall of Fame induction remains a topic of discussion, Rivers insists it wasn’t a motivating factor in his decision. He is currently a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, his first year of eligibility. Returning to play would reset the five-year waiting period, delaying his eligibility until 2031.
“I’m not holding my breath on that, and I hadn’t been counting down the years and with all respect to the Hall,” Rivers stated. “If one day I can be a part of that group, it will be special. No question about it. But the extension of that time, if that comes to be, was not a factor in my thinking.”
The Colts are proceeding cautiously, evaluating Rivers’ progress in practice this week. Leonard, despite a knee issue, participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, adding another layer of complexity to the decision. Steichen emphasized that the team will assess Rivers’ condition before determining whether to activate him for Sunday’s game. “We’ll see how the week goes,” Steichen said. “We’ll get to the end of the week and make that decision.”
Regardless of whether he takes the field this Sunday, Rivers has already injected a dose of optimism and experience into a Colts team facing adversity. His return is a testament to his enduring passion for the game and a captivating storyline in a season already filled with unexpected twists.
ARTICOL ORIGINAL:
INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers was watching the Indianapolis Colts‘ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and witnessed quarterback Daniel Jones‘ devastating Achilles injury.
“I saw the injury live,” said Rivers, the eight-time Pro Bowl selection who rejoined the Colts this week, five years after his retirement. The move reunites him with close friend Shane Steichen, the Colts’ head coach.
“I feel terrible for Daniel … And I have to admit, I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if Shane will call.'”
Steichen did, in fact, call hours later. And he got a receptive response from Rivers, one of the most decorated passers in NFL history.
After mulling over the idea with his wife and family and seeking the counsel of some trusted associates, Rivers called the Colts on Tuesday morning with a final decision.
“I said, ‘What do you think?'” Steichen said Wednesday. “He said, ‘Dadgummit, let’s freaking go.”
And with that vintage Rivers-like answer, the next chapter of his storied career began. The Colts are dealing with injuries to Jones, who was placed on injured reserve this week, and his backup, Riley Leonard, who has a right knee issue but was a full participant in practice Wednesday.
That sparked the idea to call Rivers. But even with Leonard’s improving health — he plans to practice Wednesday and said he feels good — the Colts are seriously considering playing Rivers on Sunday if he shows himself worthy in this week’s practices.
“We’ll see how the week goes,” Steichen said. “We’ll get to the end of the week and make that decision.” Asked to clarify further and whether Rivers could play even if Leonard is healthy on Sunday, Steichen was adamant.
“It depends on how he feels, too,” he said of Rivers.
Whatever happens, Rivers has already brought something to the table: enthusiasm.
Per usual, he came to work Wednesday with the same level of excitement teammates and coaches became accustomed to during his 17 previous seasons.
He boiled his decision down to still harboring a love for football that he can’t shake.
Football, he said, “is a game I love to play, a game that I thought I was done playing. Certainly, I wasn’t really hanging on to any hope of playing again. I kind of thought that ship had sailed. But something about it excited me. And it’s kind of one of those deals; the door opens and you can either walk through it and find out if you can do it or run from it.”
Asked whether he can handle the physical rigors of the game after being away for five years, Rivers conceded that will be one of his foremost challenges.
“I’m trying to pick it back up,” he said. “I’ve still been very into it since I’ve been gone [coaching high school and training draft prospects]. But, yeah, it is a physical game and it’s fast and dudes are big and fast, just like they were. So, shoot, you take it a day at a time.
“And I do feel good. There’s something about being back in this building that feels right and I’m just thankful.”
The idea of Rivers playing on Sunday might seem far-fetched on some levels, but his intimate knowledge of the Colts’ system does give him a huge advantage over a quarterback without the long history he has with Steichen.
Steichen coached Rivers for six seasons as a Chargers assistant in the late 2010s, serving as interim offensive coordinator in 2019, Rivers’ final season. Much of Steichen’s scheme and verbiage remains intact.
“That’s a big deal to be able to see that call sheet Tuesday morning and be able to know what every play is,” Rivers said.
As for the Hall of Fame variable, Rivers said it wasn’t top of mind. He is a semifinalist for induction in 2026, his first year of eligibility. If he joins the Colts’ active roster, his five-year waiting period will reset and he will need to wait until 2031 to be eligible.
“I’m not holding my breath on that, and I hadn’t been counting down the years and with all respect to the Hall,” he said. “If one day I can be a part of that group, it will be special. No question about it. But the extension of that time, if that comes to be, was not a factor in my thinking.”