Philip Rivers to sign with the Indianapolis Colts as 44-year-old grandfather QB makes shock NFL return
The Indianapolis Colts are signing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
Rivers, who turned 44 on Monday and has 10 kids, last played in 2021 for the Colts in their playoff loss to Buffalo Bills. After that defeat, he said it was time to call it a day.
Earlier this year, Rivers signed a one-day contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team who drafted him, to bring the curtain down on his career and officially retire at the place where it had all started.
But now the eight-time Pro Bowler is back to help the Colts, who are in deep trouble with Daniel Jones out for the season with a torn Achilles and backup Riley Leonard straining a ligament in his knee.
It was reported earlier on Tuesday that Rivers, who is older than Colts head coach Shane Steichen, worked out with the team on Monday night.
And, according to ESPN, Rivers 'threw the ball well' during his workout with the Colts.
It's unclear whether he will be ready to play at Seattle if the Colts need him.
Indianapolis Colts are signing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad
The Rivers family pictured on a family vacation, at a time when they had eight children
Rivers was the Colts' quarterback when they last made the playoffs in 2020. They are sat at 8-5, on the outside of the AFC playoff picture and in freefall after losing four of their last five games.
Rivers has is a devout Catholic and has spoken before of the challenges he and his wife Tiffany have faced in raising such a large family. Rivers' oldest child, 23-year-old daughter Halle, is the same age as new teammate Leonard, the quarterback he could be replacing soon.
'I think it's a challenge, and I'm by no means perfect at it, nor is anybody, but I think what I would always tell other dads is to try to be present. Just try to be there,' Rivers said in an interview with the Chargers in 2019.
'I think from a dad standpoint, children want our time. Sometimes it might just be five minutes, and sometimes it can be a lot more, but I think they want our time and to be engaged with them and present.'
Rivers' 10th child was born in October 2023 and is one year older than his grandson.
'It doesn’t matter if it’s the first child or the 10th child. It’s an awesome miracle every time,' Rivers told AL.Com at the time. 'Everyone is home now, and everyone is good.'
Since retiring from the NFL, he had been coaching high school football with St. Michael Catholic Cardinals in Fairhope, Alabama.
The Rivers first eight children in age order: (R-L) Halle, Caroline, Grace, Gunner, Sarah, Peter, Rebecca, and Clare
Rivers has 10 kids, the oldest of which is the same age as Colts quarterback Riley Leonard
No 1 Colts quarterback Daniel Jones saw his season ended with an Achilles tear on Sunday
The Colts organization, meanwhile, were coy over the extent of Leonard's knee problem on Monday.
There was no signal he had hurt himself after he came in to replace Jones on Sunday against Jacksonville Jaguars, which they lost 36-19.
Coach Shane Steichen said of Leonard on Monday that he is simply 'working through' the injury and that he has 'hope' he can lead the team against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday but 'we'll see how it goes'.
The Colts also have journeyman quarterback Brett Rypien on the roster and whatever happens with Rivers, they could be forced to consider other free agents if Leonard struggles with his recovery.
