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Philip Rivers knew what he was signing up for when he joined the Indianapolis Colts last week.
A semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026, Rivers’ eligibility was pushed back five years after he became an active player again. He will now be eligible to join Canton in 2031.
Rivers, 44, played his first game in nearly five years last week and came close to a victory against the Seattle Seahawks.
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Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers and Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Miami Dolphins pose after the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Ryan Fitzpatrick was asked on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” if he had ever considered a return, but the career journeyman, who played for nine teams, joked that he didn’t want to push back his eligibility in Canton.
“I’ve been thinking about it, because I have a year left before my health insurance runs out,” Fitzpatrick said. “So I thought about it. It was a big deal for Philip, as we saw with the 10 kids.
“But, for me, it just came down to: Do I want to reset my Hall of Fame eligibility? And I think the answer is no, you know? I think next year we’ll see what happens there, and maybe after I’m not inducted into the first ballot of the Hall of Fame, I’ll think about it.”
New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
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Rivers actually received five additional years of health insurance from the league — it expires five years after a player retires.
Rivers was emotional after his first game back, which ended in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks thanks to a field goal.
“Maybe it will inspire or teach people not to run or be afraid of what may or may not happen,” Rivers said after the loss about what his return could mean for those watching. “I hope when I think about my sons and the ball players I look after at school, they’ll say, ‘Damn, coach wasn’t scared.’
“There is a doubt, and it is real. The safe bet is to go home or not to go, and the other is: ‘Shoot, let’s see what happens’. I hope that in that sense it can be positive for some young boys or young people.”
Philip Rivers of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Rivers finished 18 of 27 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception with a passer rating of 73.1 in his return. He will likely get the nod against the San Francisco 49ers in a home game Monday night.
