Philip Rivers is headed back into retirement (again) after his brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts has seemingly come to an end.
Rivers, 44, said in a December 31 appearance on Kay Adams’ “Up & Adams” show that his comeback is over, officially closing the book on a late-season return that ultimately ended with the Colts turning to a rookie QB for their regular season finale.
The Colts’ season changed in a big way in December when injuries wiped out their quarterback room. Indianapolis brought Rivers in with the hopes he could help salvage the team’s playoff hopes, and head coach Shane Steichen was keen to lean on the aging QB’s experience both with the Colts and overall.
Rivers wound up starting three games for Indianapolis, and the results were mixed. The Colts went 0–3 in those starts, but Rivers played well considering he hadn’t seen the field in four years, completing 63% of his passes for 544 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
More on Colts QB Philip Rivers Confirming Second Retirement on Kay Adams’ Show
When Adams asked him if he was done for good this time, Rivers answered in the affirmative.
“I am,” he replied. “I got a son who will be a senior and I got that St. Michael football team ready to go. We got beat in the semifinals two years in a row,” Rivers said. “So, it’ll be his senior year. My second son will be a ninth-grader. They’ll be on the same team together.”
Thank you Philip! 🙏
“It’ll be fun to get back with the boys back home,” the veteran QB continued. “The school has been really excited. A lot of them came to the game last week. It’ll be fun. It’ll kickstart our offseason program to say the least. Maybe the things I say to them they’ll take it a little more seriously now that I was just out there playing.”
Despite going 0-3, Rivers showed he could still manage an offense, but to be fair, his margin for error was extremely thin, and he was going up against three tough teams. Rivers faced three playoff-bound teams (the 49ers, Seahawks and Jaguars) and Indy lost two of those three by one score. It was a notable effort for many reasons. But it’s over now.
“I’m back to the sideline,” Rivers added. “This was a fun three-week blur that nobody saw coming, including myself, and that’ll be it.”
His cameo in Indianapolis this year adds a strange coda to one of the most productive passing careers of the modern era. Rivers’ career totals now sit at 63,984 passing yards, 425 touchdown passes and a 64.9% completion rate.
He is an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback and was the 2013 AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Colts Seeing What Riley Leonard Can Do vs. Tough Texans Defense
With the Colts eliminated, Steichen made the decision to start rookie QB Riley Leonard in the regular season finale, sending Rivers to the bench.
Leonard, a sixth-round pick, has gone 18-for-33 for 145 yards with two interceptions in limited appearances this season, also rushing for a touchdown. Now, he’ll get to face the league’s best defense.
The Houston Texans defense sits No. 1 in the NFL in both total defense and scoring defense, allowing roughly 266 yards per game and just 16.6 points per contest, the best marks in the league through Week 17.
Houston has been elite against the pass, ranking top five in passing yards allowed at approximately 197 yards per game, while consistently limiting explosive plays and generating pressure without excessive blitzing. The Texans’ run defense has been more middle-of-the-pack, though, so you can expect Leonard to lean heavily on star RB Jonathan Taylor.
You can also expect Rivers to be Leonard’s biggest cheerleader, while also being an excellent mentor from the sidelines.
Colts QB Philip Rivers Makes Definitive Statement on His NFL Future