SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Philip Rivers fought back tears Sunday as he reflected on what it meant to nearly lead the Indianapolis Colts to victory at age 44, hoping his return might inspire his sons and the young athletes he coaches. “There is doubt, and it’s real,” he admitted. “The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not to go for it, and the other one is, ‘Shoot, let’s see what happens.’ I hope in that sense that can be a positive to some young boys, or young people.”
Rivers came out of nearly five years of retirement to start for the Colts after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, stepping into a team struggling to halt a second-half slide. He played efficiently, throwing a touchdown in the first half and avoiding major mistakes, helping the Colts set up a 60-yard field goal attempt with 47 seconds left. However, Jason Myers’ 56-yard kick gave the Seattle Seahawks an 18-16 win. Despite taking a few punishing hits from Seattle’s defense, Rivers embraced the physicality, joking about missing the challenge of getting hit while throwing the ball.
The veteran quarterback finished 18 of 27 for 120 yards, with one touchdown and an interception on his final throw, which was an attempt to force the ball downfield in the closing seconds. Rivers said he was grateful simply to be on the field and proud of his teammates’ effort, though the loss left him disappointed. The Colts, now 8-6, have lost four straight and five of six, falling outside playoff position in the AFC South with three games remaining.
Coach Shane Steichen relied on a conservative game plan, emphasizing the running game and short passes, trusting Rivers to manage the offense. Rivers connected with Josh Downs for an 8-yard touchdown late in the first half, marking his first TD pass since January 2021 and making him the fifth NFL player to throw a touchdown at age 44 or older. The short-lived comeback also highlighted Rivers’ place among the league’s all-time leaders in wins, completions, yards, and touchdowns.
Since retiring, Rivers has been coaching high school football at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, and he acknowledged the importance of setting an example for young athletes. “Maybe it will inspire or teach not to run or be scared of what may or may not happen,” he said, reflecting on the rare and emotional return to the NFL.
