Former Colts and longtime Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers made a most unusual comeback Sunday as the Colts played the Seahawks in Seattle.
Depending on the Colts’ remaining three games, it may be the sports feel-good story of the year.
Rivers is 44. He had retired from the NFL in 2020 and had not played in five years. He was eligible for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Because he played on Sunday, that eligibility will be delayed for five more years.
Philip Rivers may be the only quarterback to return after five years of retirement, to play at age 44, and to have ten children and one grandchild. He had played his college career at N.C. State. How in the world did Alabama and Auburn both miss out on Philip Rivers?
It was Alabama night in Seattle. And it was a Rivers’ family night, with at least three Rivers menfolk there. The Colts’ brand new but veteran starting quarterback Philip Rivers is also head football coach at St. Michael High School in Fairhope.
His Dad was at the game.
Steve Rivers, a Sylacauga High graduate and football star under legendary coach Tom Calvin, was later head coach at Decatur and Athens. Gunner Rivers, Philip’s son and Steve’s grandson, is the current star quarterback at St. Michael. He quarterbacked the 2025 team, and Dad Philip coached the team, to a 13-1 record and to the semi-finals of the state 4A playoffs.
The “Rivers Return” headlined sports news for the week since Philip rejoined the team Monday, December 8, one day after the third of three Colts quarterbacks was injured.
Rivers’ unlikely return to the NFL began December 7 when Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury.
Ironically, Fairhope High School standout Riley Leonard took over as quarterback.
Leonard then suffered a knee injury. Anthony Richardson, next in line, was already on the injured list and thus unavailable.
After 16 years of quarterbacking the Chargers, Rivers had played one season for the Colts in 2020. They telephoned him the next day after their multiple injuries Sunday, December 8. That happened to be his 44th birthday.
He flew to Indianapolis later that day, taking part in a workout that night. Some birthday celebration.
On Tuesday, he signed a practice-squad contract and practiced with the team the remainder of last week. Saturday, he was moved to the active roster and started at quarterback Sunday.
It was a smooth re-entry for Rivers and his former team.
Fourteen of his former teammates are still right there where they were in 2020 when Rivers was their quarterback. He was used to Coach Shane Steichen, who had also been his offensive coordinator with the Chargers. He is now wearing his old number 17. Many other things remained the same. Familiarity. Comfort.
He told the national media: “There’s something about being back in this building that feels right. And I’m just thankful…”.
The last time he was here, in 2020, Rivers led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a spot in the playoffs, which is the last time the team has reached the postseason.
Before Sunday’s game, Rivers had passed for a career 63,440 yards and 422 touchdowns, completing 65 percent of his throws. In his final 2020 season with the Colts, Rivers threw for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
The only thing that marred the comeback was that Rivers and the Colts lost 18 to 16, barely lost, and in the last minute. The Colts had led most of the game, but closely.
The Colts went ahead by one point at 42 seconds to go in the game with a field goal.
That left just enough time, coupled with a short field starting from the 37-yard line, for the Seahawks to answer. They got into field goal range, barely, and connected on a 57-yard field goal to win. That was their sixth field goal of the day.
What do you call a team that can’t score a touchdown but relies on all field goals to win? The winner.
Rivers and the Colts have three games remaining – San Francisco, Jacksonville and the Texans. Can the comeback continue? Even more importantly, can Rivers and the Colts actually win instead of performing close losses?
Whether the season closes short of the playoffs or in a playoff loss, Rivers will return to Fairhope as head coach at St. Michael. That’s a pretty nice day job. He’ll be back in sweet home Alabama.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected].
