Philip Rivers' return to the Indianapolis Colts stunned the NFL, leaving some wondering whether his body will be able to hold up at 44 years old and five years after retirement.
Before Monday's report that the Colts were considering a reunion with Rivers, who spent one season in Indianapolis before announcing his retirement, the next phase of the quarterback's NFL life appeared to be the Hall of Fame. Rivers is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026, which will be announced in February.
A return to the field could impact Rivers' Hall of Fame eligibility, however, shaking up the timeline for the former Chargers star.
Here's a look at how Rivers' unretirement affects his Hall of Fame eligibility.
MORE COLTS NEWS:
- Why the Colts are signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers
- 6 reasons why Philip Rivers signing smells of desperation
- How Daniel Jones' injury impacts Colts' playoff chances
- Full Colts quarterback timeline since Andrew Luck's retirement
- Why Anthony Richardson isn't available to start for Colts
When is Philip Rivers eligible for the Hall of Fame?
Until Rivers is signed to the Colts' active roster, he will remain eligible for the Hall of Fame for the class of 2026, which will be revealed in February. If he is elevated to the active roster, however, Rivers' eligibility would reset, meaning he would have to wait another five years to return to the ballot.
If Rivers is added to the active roster, he would be on the ballot in 2030 for the class of 2031, which would be revealed in February of 2031.
If Rivers participated in practice and suddenly decided a return wasn't the right decision and never jumped from the practice squad to the active roster, his Hall of Fame eligibility would remain exactly as it is, keeping him in the mix to be elected in the coming months.
In regards to Philip Rivers Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility, according to The Hall: If he is signed to the active roster, his HOF eligibility clock resets. That's a 5-year wait. If he is only signed the practice squad, it does not. Rivers is one of 26 semifinalists for the…
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) December 9, 2025
The active roster distinction is important. That means Rivers could theoretically be elevated to the active roster, never play and still see his Hall of Fame clock reset. If Rivers is elevated to the active roster, though, one would have to think it would mean the Colts planned on playing him anyway.
MORE WEEK 15 NFL:
Is Philip Rivers a Hall of Famer?
Rivers is not yet a Hall of Famer but is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. This is Rivers' first year of eligibility, as players must be out of the NFL for at least five years to be considered.
Whether Rivers will be a Hall of Famer is an interesting debate. There was likely no path to election in 2026, as Drew Brees is assured of a spot and Larry Fitzgerald is expected to be another first-timer who gains entry to Canton. There are no rules preventing voters from electing two quarterbacks or three first-timers in the same class, but history shows it doesn't happen very often.
If Rivers' clock is reset, he could be up for election next to another Hall of Fame lock in 2031 because Aaron Rodgers has said this could be his final season. If Rodgers does walk away after 2025 and Rivers' clock resets, the two would be on track to join the Hall of Fame ballot in late 2030 for the class of 2031.
For Rivers, the counting stats are Hall of Fame-worthy, as he ranks sixth all-time in touchdown passes and seventh in passing yards, but he and the Chargers never won or even competed for championships the way Tom Brady's New England Patriots, Ben Roethlisberger's Pittsburgh Steelers or Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts did.
MORE: Inside Philip Rivers' family tree
Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists 2026
Here's a look at Rivers and the 26 total semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026:
- QB Drew Brees (first year)
- QB Eli Manning
- QB Philip Rivers (first year)
- RB Frank Gore (first year)
- RB Fred Taylor
- WR Larry Fitzgerald (first year)
- WR Torry Holt
- WR Steve Smith
- WR Hines Ward
- WR Reggie Wayne
- TE Jason Witten (first year)
- OL Willie Anderson
- OL Lomas Brown
- OL Jahri Evans
- OL Richmond Webb
- OL Steve Wisniewski
- OL Marshal Yanda
- DL Robert Mathis
- DL Vince Wilfork
- DL Kevin Williams
- LB Luke Kuechly
- LB Terrell Suggs
- S Rodney Harrison
- S Earl Thomas
- S Darren Woodson
- K Adam Vinatieri
Brees and Rivers are joined by a returning Eli Manning in the quarterback room, while Frank Gore, Larry Fitzgerald and Jason Witten round out the class of first-year semifinalists.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture after Week 14 games