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44-year-old Philip Rivers is going to play an NFL game after being out of football for nearly four years.
Earlier this week, Rivers signed with the Colts after Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending Achilles injury.
Rivers was excited to take on the challenge after being out of football for such a long time.
“Certainly not hanging any hope on playing again. There’s something exciting about it that excited me. It’s kind of one of those deals—the door opens and you can either walk through it and find out if you can do it. I know that there’s obviously risk involved that may or may not happen, but the only way to find out. I just felt almost like it was another opportunity to cut loose with the guys in the game you love to play and live the dream. You got that?
🚨 “Here I Stand.” Philip Rivers on His Improbable Comeback!
The Chargers have put him on the active roster.
Rivers returning at age 44 from a 3-year absence is one of the most surreal comebacks in sports history.
“A door opens and either you can walk through it and find… pic.twitter.com/eMa4dOTVed
— 🔥 CEO Branding Expert (@Ceo_Branding) December 13, 2025
On Saturday, the Colts named Rivers the starter despite not being on the active roster for over three years.
The #Colts will start QB Philip Rivers on Sunday against the #Seahawks, sources tell The Insiders.
Age 44, out of retirement, after a full week of practice, Rivers is a go. pic.twitter.com/0gZFcrHle6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 13, 2025
ESPN’s Ryan Clark believes Rivers’ playing is dangerous and questioned the Colts’ decision.
“I believe this is incompetent. And I also believe it is irresponsible. This is not Michael Jordan coming back to play basketball after three years off for the Washington Wizards. This is a man in Phillip Rivers who was always a stationary target taking five years off to coach high school football and then coming back to play against the Seattle Seahawks, who would get after your keester if you were freaking Michael Vick.”
Ryan Clark on the Colts potentially starting Phillip Rivers: “… I believe this is incompetent. And I also believe it is irresponsible. This is not Michael Jordan coming back to play basketball after three years off for the Washington Wizards. This is a man in Phillip Rivers who… pic.twitter.com/rRhJtUhT8Z
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 12, 2025