Philip Rivers’ comeback story ‘is a great feel-good story,’ says Catholic organization’s founder

Philip Rivers made an incredible return to the NFL this season, coming off the sidelines as a high school football coach to don the pads for the Indianapolis Colts when needed.

Rivers’ commitment to his team and expression of humility resonated with Catholics and Christians across the United States.

Shawn Carney, founder of the Catholic faith-based organization 40 Days for Life, explained why in an interview with PK Press Club Digital after the Colts’ close loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club

“Philip Rivers has always been pretty open about his faith, not that he runs around and brags about it, but his return to the NFL, I think at a time when Americans need some really good news, is so inspiring — not just for us Catholics but for all Christians,” Carney said. “I think it’s great to see someone coming out of retirement, living a good life, living a life the way most people want to live, which is being a good father and a good husband. And overall, that’s too often overlooked.”

Carney said he thinks the average Catholic or Christian can take away important things from Rivers’ journey home.

“I think the average American Catholic or Christian looks at Philip Rivers and says, ‘The way I live my life is the way he tries to live his life. I want to be a good father. I want to be a good mother. I want to be a good husband, I want to be a good wife.’ And there’s nothing wrong with that,” Carney said. “It’s not something to apologize for.

“Actually, that’s what most Americans strive to be, and he represents that, except he’s very famous and has 10 or 11 kids. I think at this point, it’s just beautiful to see. It’s beautiful to see when we have celebrities who have the same priorities as people who are living their lives and working hard every day to provide for their families.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) leaves the field Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, after losing a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

BROCK PURDY THROWS 5 TOUCHDOWNS, SPOILS PHILIP RIVERS’ RETURN TO INDIANAPOLIS IN 49ERS’ VICTORY AGAINST COLTS

Rivers, 44, has 397 passing yards, three touchdown passes and two interceptions in the two games he has played. However, the Colts haven’t won since Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury.

Carney told PK Press Club Digital that game results don’t necessarily have to be there to impact those watching in the stands or at home.

“Everyone loves a good story and this one is a great feel-good story at the end of 2025. No one is picking on Philip Rivers, I can’t imagine. I hope there’s no one on the left picking on him because he’s the proud father of a lot of kids, but everyone’s rooting for him. He’s 44, he’s out, they needed him, he’s playing great,” he said. “And win or lose, no one cares.

“It’s a really great story. It’s inspiring. He doesn’t make a lot of money. He doesn’t really need the money. He’s doing it because they asked him to do it and he’s talking about the team, not himself. He deflects all the praise and it’s just a good story. He’s a great guy and that’s brought to the forefront and again I think it reflects the way most Americans choose to live their lives. They don’t let themselves not get caught up in so many different things and so many distractions.

All hope is not lost for the Colts, but their chances of making the playoffs are dwindling.

Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. Offer ends January 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP

Indianapolis needs to win its next two games to have a legitimate chance. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans are next on their schedule.