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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers meet on the field after their game at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Colts 28-24. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Philip Rivers’ NFL return has been one of the biggest discussions in sports since he walked into his Indianapolis Colts press conference on December 10.
At 44 years old, Rivers stepped into the Colts’ huddle in Week 15 and immediately took snaps in a significant game. The result was a narrow 18–16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but the takeaway went far beyond the score.
Rivers threw for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Seattle’s seventh-best defense against the pass. The eight-time Pro Bowler hadn’t played professional football since 2020. And no quarterback in modern NFL history has stepped away that long, returned at his age with limited practice reps, and immediately handled live game action without looking overwhelmed.
For a Colts team ravaged by injuries at quarterback, that mattered. And now, it’s forcing a larger conversation around the league.
Rivers’ Return Could Inspire More NFL Comebacks
The NFL has seen late-career quarterbacks hang on before. Tom Brady played into his mid-40s. Aaron Rodgers is still going at 42. But Rivers’ situation is different. This wasn’t a gradual fade. This was a full stop, followed by a restart years later.
One that could become a growing trend, especially for teams bereft of healthy pocket passers like the current Colts.
On Monday, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Honor. And of course, a flurry of questions about whether or not the 43-year-old would ever consider pulling a Rivers.
“Right this minute? No,” Roethlisberger said, according to Oliver Browning of TalkSport.com. “But if I have a little bit of work, I could. My right arm works just fine. It’s the rest of my body I worry about.”
That hesitation is telling. Roethlisberger, like Rivers, retired without ever really losing his arm power. What wore him down was everything else. And now Rivers has shown that with the right situation, the right timing, and the right expectations, an older quarterback doesn’t need to be a franchise savior to still matter.
Pittsburgh isn’t one of those teams right now at 8-6 and a game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens for the division. With Rodgers leading the AFC North at age 42, the Steelers have no reason to look backward for the moment. But the fact Roethlisberger even entertained the idea on Monday night, you can’t completely take the possibility off the table.
Rivers’ Outlook With The Colts
Head coach Shane Steichen announced on Monday that Rivers will start vs. the San Francisco 49ers, per Mike Chappell of FOX59 and CBS4 Sports.
Rivers’ return reopened his statistical ledger. His 120 passing yards against Seattle, now puts him at 63,560 career passing yards. That’s just 528 yards behind Roethlisberger for sixth place on the NFL’s all-time list.
Either way, Big Ben was quick to give Rivers props.
“I can’t believe he was out there,” Roethlisberger told Brendan Howe of Steelers Now. Good for him. … I don’t know how he felt today.”
I asked former #Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger his assessment on 44-year-old Colts QB Philip Rivers’ showing on Sunday evening:
“I can’t believe he was out there. Good for him. … I don’t know how he felt today.”
With three games remaining, that all-time passing mark is very much within reach. Much of the decision on the Colts’ QB1 this week and moving forward will depend on the health of rookie Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson. But it appears that Rivers has the current edge for Week 16.
If Rivers could find a way to get his 529 yards, he would move past Roethlisberger and slot in behind only Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers. That’s rare company. It doesn’t redefine his career, but it adds weight to it — especially when Hall of Fame discussions eventually come back around. Rivers won’t be eligible until 2031, but longevity and volume still matter in that room.
Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn
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