Philip Rivers thought 'ship had sailed' on NFL return before Colts called: 'Another opportunity to play'

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Philip Rivers is stepping into a time warp as he attempts a comeback bid to save the Indianapolis Colts’ season.

The 44-year-old QB, who last played in 2020 in Indy and officially signed back with the team on Wednesday, said his relationship with head coach Shane Steichen and his familiarity with the organization led to his return after retiring in 2021.

“As simple as can be, a coach that I love and an organization that I really enjoyed being with,” Rivers said Wednesday of his return. “Mr. (Jim) Irsay believing in me in 2020 when it didn’t go so good in 2019. The teammates that I was able to play with, shoot, 14 of them are still here. Training room is the same. PR guys are the same. Equipment room is the same. They wanted me. I try to keep it as simple as that.”

After 16 seasons with the Chargers, Rivers spent 2020 in Indy, where he helped lead the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff bid, the last time the franchise has been to the postseason.

Rivers has spent his retirement coaching high school and said he didn’t really consider returning. Then, he saw Daniel Jones go down on Sunday with a torn Achilles, which made him wonder if Steichen would call.

“A game I love to play. A game I thought I was done playing, certainly,” Rivers said. “I wasn’t really hanging on any hope of playing again. I kind of thought that ship had sailed, but something about it excited me. Kind of one of those deals, a door opens and you either walk through it and find out if you can do it or run from it. I know that there’s risk involved, obviously, of what may or may not happen, but the only way to find out is going for it, and I just felt almost like it was a gift, another opportunity to play and cut it loose with the guys and the game you love to play.”

Rivers’ last NFL pass came on Jan. 9, 2021, in a playoff loss to Buffalo. No one questions the 17-year pro’s mental capacity, and his familiarity with Steichen’s offense will serve him well. But after so much time off, at his age, does the granddad really have it left in him physically?

“We’re going to find out that, too,” he said. “I think so. I know it is tough. I know five years is a long time. Believe me, that weighed on me a lot, it being so long. But it is also a game I’ve played a long time, and stayed in over the last five years. I know high school ball is different. Staying involved in the game, and I watched the Colts and the Chargers every Sunday, about every snap, and I watch about every game there is. And I know that’s not NFL-preparing to play quarterback. I know it’s a far stretch from that, but it’s not like I just shut football down and am trying to pick it back up.”

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Rivers said he hadn’t given much thought about returning until “about 48 hours ago.” Steichen rebuffed the idea that it might be too much for the 44-year-old to come out of the recliner and into the huddle.

“He didn’t forget how to throw a football,” the coach said.

Steichen noted that Riley Leonard, who is dealing with a PCL injury, is expected to practice Wednesday. The coach will make a determination later in the week on the starter for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. Regardless of who it is, it will be a challenge for the 8-5 Colts, who have slipped from the top of the AFC all the way out of postseason position in four weeks.

Who will face a Mike Macdonald defense that has given even good quarterbacks fits this season? A sixth-round rookie in his first start who is dealing with a knee injury or a 44-year-old high school coach who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in nearly 1,800 days?

The Colts inked Rivers to the practice squad as he gets back in the swing of things. If he is activated, his Hall of Fame candidacy would reset, precipitating at least another five-year wait. Rivers, who is one of 26 semifinalists for induction in 2026, said that didn’t come into play at all in his decision to return.

“It’s a real honor to be mentioned with those other 25 guys, certainly,” he said. “But I’m not holding my breath on that, and I had not been counting down the years with all respect to the Hall. And 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 it comes to be was not a factor in my thinking.”

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