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Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen
The Indianapolis Colts roster just got a lot older.
Indy signed formerly retired quarterback Philip Rivers to help out with the teams injury plagued quarterback position.
Daniel Jones, who was already was dealing with a fractured leg, torn his Achilles in the Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and will miss the rest of the season. Riley Leonard stepped in to fill in for Jones, but suffered a knee injury, with his Week 15 matchup up in the air. Initial backup quarterback Anthony Richardson is currently on IR after suffering a fractured orbital bone in a pregame incident in October.
The Colts do not have a healthy quarterback on the 53-man roster and needed to address the situation immediately to keep the teams playoffs hopes alive.
Rivers last played for the Indianapolis back in the 2020 season. The QB threw for 4,169 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Colts Head Coach On Signing Phillip Rivers
GettyPhilip Rivers will return to Indianapolis after being retired for five years
Adding Philip Rivers to the team gives the Indianapolis Colts a bit of hope as offensive play caller Shane Steichen and the QB have chemistry with each other back when both were members of the Chargers organization.
The Colts head coach was the offensive coordinator for Steichen back in the 2019 and 2020 seasons back in Los Angeles. In those two seasons, Rivers threw for 8,923 passing yards and 55 touchdown passes.
“Super excited for him,” Steichen said of adding Rivers. “His passion and his obsession for the game is unmatched. For him to comeback and want to do this at 44 years old, I think is incredible. I know he’s going to give everything to this organization that he has.”
“Sunday after the game [against Jacksonville] when Daniel went down and then we found out about Riley, we’re kind of like, ‘hey, what are we gonna do?’ Me and [general manager] Chris [Ballard] talked and we’re like, ‘Let’s call Phillip. See what he says…’ We’re excited for his opportunity. Like I said, he’s one of the most passionate players I’ve ever been around. The obsession for the game is off the charts. I know he’s fired up to be back in this building…”
The HC mentioned that the offensive playbook has remained the same since his time in Los Angeles and Rivers will have familiarity with the scheme going forward.
Steichen mentioned that the team will see how the week of practice goes for Rivers and Riley Leonard goes before making a decision to see which player will be behind the center on Sunday.
Rivers On Returning To The NFL
GettyPhilip Rivers will enter his 18th NFL season
The 44 year old quarterback was signed on to the practice squad and appears likely to be elevated onto the 53-man roster to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.
Rivers had minimal time to make a decision as the Colts needed an immediate answer to the teams’ injury woes and the season nearing the end.
“As simple as simple can be, a coach that I love and an organization that I really enjoyed being with… They wanted me. I [will] try to keep it as simple as that,” Rivers said in his first press conference since coming back from retirement. “A game I love to play. I thought I was done playing certainly, I wasn’t really hanging on any hope of playing again. I’d kind of thought that ship had sailed.”
“I know there’s risk involved obviously of what may or may not happen, but the only way to find out it going for it. I just felt like it was a gift, another opportunity…”
The quarterback was named a semifinalist for the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame class and it will likely reset if Rivers is elevated to the main roster on game day. He mentioned that losing his eligibility to be inducted to the Hall of Fame was not a factor in deciding in returning to play.
Rivers has mentioned that he believes he is ready to return to the game day field.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
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