The Indianapolis Colts became so desperate at the quarterback position this season that they called upon 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who hadn't played in the NFL since the 2020 season.
After losing Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury, the Colts pinned their fading playoff hopes on Rivers rather than seeing what they could get out of rookie Riley Leonard. Anthony Richardson had already spent most of the season on the sidelines after a freak injury took him out of the lineup.
Rivers returned without hesitation, but one of the more concerning factors in his doing so was that it would reset his clock to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rivers was named a semi-finalist for the Hall of Fame in 2026 this November. However, the league has strict rules that players must be retired for a minimum of fives years before they can be considered for enshrinement.
Some fans may have glossed over that five-year wait period, feeling that Rivers is either a borderline candidate or one who may not get in at all. In reality, he should be an absolute slam dunk.
Rivers is one of the best players in the history of the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. There, he set franchise records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a career. But he didn't just set records for the Chargers. His 63,837 passing yards rank eighth in NFL history and his 424 career touchdown passes are good for sixth.
In addition to the statistics, Rivers is a guy who just does it the right way. He's a fierce competitor who has managed to get under the skin of his opponents while also earning all of their respect. But his work this season with the Colts should not be looked at in a negative way.
Rivers is 0-2 in his two starts with the Colts this season, but he was given a tough road, having to face the Seattle Seahawks on the road before taking on the San Francisco 49ers at home. Though the Colts lost both games, it wasn't because of Rivers.
Barring a miracle these last few weeks, I just want to say thank you to Philip Rivers for doing the unthinkable and returning after 5 yrs. Just to give the Colts a chance.
— Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) December 23, 2025
You 100% didn't have to but your true love for the game is really missed nowadays. You still got it 17. Pic.twitter.com/OXu43z3pGz
Rivers has completed 66.1 percent of his throws for 397 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He's shown a strong command of the offense and his ability to step back and let it rip has been evident, which is quite impressive for a player who is literally a grandfather at this point and hasn't played competitively since the COVID-19 season.
The fact that Rivers was able to get up off his couch and come back to give the Colts ANY chance at winning speaks to only one thing... A Hall of Fame quarterback.
Dan Marino has long been considered the best quarterback to never win a Super Bowl. But right behind him is Rivers. He deserves to have his career end in Canton, Ohio. It's just a shame that won't happen for at least another five years.
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