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The return of Philip Rivers is official.
The Indianapolis Colts have named the 44-year-old grandfather as their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
This will be Rivers’ first game since 2020.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) returns to pass Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts practice facility in Indianapolis.
Rivers announced his retirement from the NFL after this season and turned his attention to coaching high school football. There were reports in 2023 that he was considering a return, but nothing ever materialized.
However, with 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 turn.
“I wasn’t clinging to any 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 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 you run away. I know there’s a risk, but the only way to find out is to go for it.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts practice facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Rivers added that he was watching the Colts game when Jones fell to the turf. He admitted it occurred to him that he might eventually get a call from Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen.
“When this happened, in my mind I was like, ‘What is happening?’ How crazy that would be at the quarterback position, I have to admit I was like, ‘I wonder if Shane’s going to follow,'” Rivers said. “Immediately, the competitor in you gets excited.”
Depending on how many games Rivers plays, he could eclipse 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)
Indianapolis, which started 7-1 but has since lost four of its last five games, will face the Seattle Seahawks to try to keep its playoff hopes alive.
