In one of the more shocking NFL headlines of the season, former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been contacted about a return to the NFL at 44 years old.
The Indianapolis Colts had starting quarterback Daniel Jones go down for the season on Sunday with a torn Achilles tendon. In addition to that, his backup, Riley Leonard, is also dealing with a strained knee ligament and may not be ready for the team's Week 15 game.
That has left the Colts scrambling after an incredible start to this season that they don't want to see go down the proverbial drain. With that said, the team will bring Rivers in for a workout on Tuesday.
It's incredible news for a team that started the season with Anthony Richardson as its starting quarterback. After being supplanted by Jones, he was placed on injured reserve in October with a fractured orbital bone that he suffered during pre-game warmups. He has yet to play a single down in his third year in the league and his future is considered cloudy at best.
Rivers played for the Chargers for 16 seasons and is among the best players in team history. But he finished his career after one season with the Colts in 2020. Recently named a Hall of Fame finalist for the class of 2026, Rivers would reset that clock back at least another five years if he chooses to play again.
It's a tough decision for Rivers to make, but it seems like the opportunity for him to come back and play is there. He would join a Colts team that is reeling at 8-5 after a 7-1 start to the season. Rivers always wanted the chance to play in the Super Bowl and the idea of turning this season back in the other direction for the Colts could be appealing.
The #Colts are planning to bring potential Hall of Fame QB Philip Rivers into their facility Tuesday to work out to see if he may join their practice squad, per me & @MikeGarafolo.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2025
This is real. Daniel Jones’ season is over, Riley Leonard will start, but Rivers may be an option. Pic.twitter.com/H3tQW2R3s7
Rivers is the Chargers' all-time leader in passing yardage and touchdown passes. He also ranks third in team history in games played with 228.
In his lone season with the Colts, he completed 68 percent of his throws for 4,169 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading the Colts to an 11-5 record and a Wild Card berth. The Colts lost to the Buffalo Bills 27-24 in the Wild Card round.
Rivers' last game in the NFL was played on January 9, 2021. But that was also the year during the COVID-19 pandemic, so his career ended with little fanfare in front of empty seats. That could be another thing that motivates Rivers to come back and end his career on different terms.
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