Philip Rivers

he Indianapolis Colts have made one of the most unexpected moves of the 2025 season, bringing veteran quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement and back into their building. Rivers, now 44, has signed to the team's practice squad after starting quarterbackDaniel Jones suffered an ACL injury against Jacksonville. The injury left Indianapolis searching for an emergency option - and Rivers became that answer.

Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020, when he led Indianapolis to an 11-win season before retiring at the end of the year. Now, with the Colts sitting third in the AFC South and facing uncertainty at quarterback, the former Pro Bowler returns as a potential late season replacement.

Contact details still undisclosed

As of now, the financial terms of Rivers' agreement have not been made public. The team has confirmed his addition to the practice squad, but specifics regarding salary and incentives are still pending. Once finalized, compensation figures are expected to reflect standard practice-squad terms with potential elevation clauses if he is activated to the main roster.

Rivers' career earnings and background

Rivers' return comes four seasons after completing one of the most productive QB careers in NFL history. According to Spotrac, he earned $243,944,322 over 17 seasons. The bulk of that came with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, where he made over $217 million from 2004 through 2019. After leaving Los Angeles, he signed a one-year, $25 million contract with the Colts in 2020, which became his final active season before retiring.

His career began in dramatic fashion: drafted fourth overall by the New York Giants, then traded on draft day to San Diego in exchange for Eli Manning. He went on to become the Charger's franchise leader in most major passing categories.

At NC State, Rivers set numerous ACC records and was named 2003 ACC player of the year and 2004 ACC athlete of the year. His 51 consecutive college starts once set an NCAA record.

In the NFL, Rivers earned eight Pro Bowl nods and won 2013 comeback player of the year. At retirement, he ranked fifth all-time in passing yards (63,440) and touchdowns (421).

Rivers now returns to Indianapolis with no confirmed timeline for playing status. The Colts maintain that signing him simply gives them another experienced option while they navigate the loss of Jones. Further roster movement will depend on his readiness and the team's needs as the season continues.

Philip Rivers coming out of retirement to help ailing Colts’ offense

Philip Rivers (17) of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Oct. 11, 2020, in Cleveland. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/TNS)

These are not your grandfather’s Indianapolis Colts. Or perhaps they are.The Colts are planning to sign Chargers legend Philip Rivers, who recently became a grandfather, bringing back the 44-year-old quarterback after five years of retirement.According to multiple reports Tuesday, the franchise intends to sign him to its practice squad in the wake of a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Daniel Jones.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Rivers is a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist, and were the Colts to sign him to their active roster it would reset his five-year eligibility clock.

“Philip is the ultimate competitor and the ultimate teammate,” said retired NFL offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger, who blocked for him in San Diego. “Whatever is good for the team, he’s going to do and that’s what made him such a special player.“If they need him, he’s going to be 100% ready. If there’s one thing I know about Philip, he wouldn’t have even answered the phone if he didn’t think he could help.”

Rivers played 16 seasons with the Chargers, and a final one with the Colts, before calling it a career after the 2020 season. He retired to his home state to become head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High in Fairhope, Ala.

Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, have 10 children — seven daughters and three sons. Their son Gunner is a junior at St. Michael and a four-star college prospect at quarterback.

The Colts got off to an 8-2 start and were among the NFL’s hottest teams but have hit hard times recently with three consecutive losses and, in the first half Sunday against Jacksonville, a torn Achilles tendon to Jones.

The team now turns to rookie Riley Leonard, who is recovering from a knee injury, and does not have the services of former starter Anthony Richardson, who remains on injured reserve with an orbital fracture.

The return of Rivers reunites him with Colts coach Shane Steichen, his onetime quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator with the Chargers.

“That’s really benefits both sides,” Ohrenberger said. “They’re going to be able to speak the same language really quick. He’s going to be able to get Philip caught up on nuances that may have changed over the years.”

Ohrenberger said Rivers will be a boost to the Colts whether he’s on the field or not.

“He brings an incredible amount of value,” the retired lineman said. “He doesn’t just impact a team because he can be one of the best players on the field and tilt the gravity of the field, but because of his leadership. His ability to retain things incredibly quickly and his calm in chaos. … Now, he may seem chaotic when the cameras catch him jawing, but his ability to handle big moments and make them smaller is elite.

“His ability to explain things concisely in big moments when you need to be brief but impactful, and to get things organized quickly, he’s great at all that. Having him in the building is going to lift the football IQ of that team by leaps and bounds.”

The Indianapolis Colts are scrambling at quarterback as they head into a crucial Week 15 trip to face the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 14. A run of injuries has forced the team to look backward in order to move forward, bringing longtime NFL starter Philip Rivers out of retirement and back to Indianapolis for Round 2.

Rivers, 44, has not played in the league since 2020, when he threw for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns while guiding the Colts to an 11-5 record in what looked like a one-year farewell tour. Now, he returns as an emergency option after Daniel Jones ruptured his right Achilles on Sunday and rookie QB Riley Leonard banged up his right knee while finishing the Week 14 loss at Jacksonville.

When it comes to fake football, managers want to know whether Rivers will actually see the field in the fantasy football playoffs and how his presence might alter the outlooks for Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce over the final month.

Rivers' Return and Fantasy Outlook

Indianapolis worked Rivers out on Monday night and came away impressed enough with his throwing session to sign him to the practice squad rather than immediately to the 53-man roster. There will be a ramp-up period, even though he is intimately familiar with the system.

The current depth chart explains why the Colts made this move. Jones is out for the season, Leonard is working through the aforementioned knee injury, Anthony Richardson remains on IR with an orbital bone injury, and Brett Rypien has been parked on the practice squad as depth.

Given that setup, the early expectation should be that Leonard gets the first shot to start in Week 15 if his knee responds well in practice, with Rivers functioning as an experienced insurance policy rather than an immediate plug-in starter. The Colts could still choose to elevate him quickly if Leonard suffers a setback or struggles, but there has been no public indication yet that Rivers is being lined up to start in Seattle.

From a fantasy standpoint, treat Rivers as a wait-and-see option right now. Ideally, in shallow, one-quarterback leagues, he should remain on waivers until there is confirmation he is on the 53-man roster and in serious contention to start. However, we know that's not how fantasy owners tend to operate. Someone will add Rivers right now.

In the event his first game action in five years comes against a strong Seahawks defense this week, Rivers should be left in reserve.

Managers in two-QB superflex formats can justify a more aggressive stance. If your league starts 24 or more quarterbacks and bench spots are deep, Rivers is a viable desperation play. The Colts have been one of the league’s more productive offenses when healthy, and the remaining schedule features potential high-scoring environments against the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively, before facing a damning matchup against Houston in Week 18, should your league operate that late.

Fantasy Impact on Indy's Offense

For Taylor, it is this simple: You keep starting him. The loss of Jones and the uncertainty around Leonard invite more stacked boxes, but Taylor’s touch count and goal-line role remain secure. The offense is still committed to running through him regardless of who is under center.

Pass catchers feel the ripple effects more acutely. Leonard profiles as a functional but low-ceiling game manager rather than a downfield gunslinger. That kind of play narrows the weekly ceiling for Warren, Pittman and Pierce, but it does not erase their value, because the Colts still throw enough to keep their primary options involved.

Warren has emerged as Indianapolis’ leading receiver in yardage, with Pierce carving out a role downfield and Josh Downs operating as the short-area option. In all likelihood, only Pittman and Warren should be counted on should Leonard be the starter.

If/when Rivers eventually takes over, his history suggests a willingness to lean heavily on running backs and tight ends in the quick-passing game, which could modestly boost PPR usage for Warren, Downs and Taylor. At the same time, Rivers' age and rust could limit the deep-ball efficiency that has fueled Pierce’s big-play profile, making him more volatile if Rivers is forced into action.

Fantasy managers should treat the situation this way:

  • Rivers is a speculative stash, not a Week 15 starter outside of superflex formats.

  • Taylor remains a locked-in RB1.

  • Pittman and Pierce profile as WR2/No. 3 options with some added volatility due to quarterback concerns.

  • Downs is no better than a matchup-based flex in deep PPR leagues.

  • Warren is still a strong every-week starter.

  • Indy's defense should stay fresher later into games, but the remaining matchups are sketchy.

Colts' Remaining Schedule

Week 15: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 16: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 18: at Houston Texans

Posted on 2025/12/10 09:23 AM