It’s been 5 years since we final noticed Philip Rivers take the sector within the NFL. Even when he known as it quits in 2020, Rivers appeared like a shell of himself. Nonetheless, in 2025, Rivers received another likelihood to steer an NFL group with playoff aspirations, and he exceeded expectations.
The bar was low for Rivers on this one. He’s been teaching highschool soccer since retiring from the NFL, elevating his ten children, and now even a grandchild. Nonetheless, in case you didn’t get excited to see Rivers again out on the soccer subject, it’s important to be some kind of Scrooge. The Colts have been in dire want of a quarterback with accidents to Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, and Riley Leonard.
They didn’t wish to hand over on what was a terrific begin to the season, and the one free brokers out there have been CJ Bethard, Jeff Driskell, and Jake Fromm, who’s actively promoting insurance coverage.
None of these choices actually moved the needle for Indy, so that they took a shot on the marginally obese grandpa, and he didn’t suck.
I imply, it wasn’t the prettiest outing of all time. Rivers couldn’t push the ball downfield, however you possibly can nonetheless see the Corridor of Fame mind on the man. With one week’s discover, he appeared like he had full management of this Colts offense.
However what else would you count on from a man like Rivers? He performed like a man who knew that he didn’t have something left in his arm; nevertheless, he leaned on an elite run sport and nonetheless managed to win a time-of-possession sport towards a wonderful Seahawks group.
That’s one other factor that impressed me. Rivers by no means appeared overwhelmed on the market, particularly with the deck stacked towards him. Moreover all the apparent points I’ve beforehand laid out, the Colts have been on the highway in one of the crucial difficult environments, dealing with a protection that hasn’t given up a 100-yard rusher for 23 video games, and so they have been doing it with out each of their beginning tackles.
Even with the whole lot working towards him, Rivers managed to get the Colts into field-goal vary and gave them the lead with beneath a minute to play. Then, in typical Philip Rivers trend, his protection let him down on the very finish of the sport. Some issues by no means change within the NFL.
On the finish of the day, the NFL isn’t a Disney film. The Colts couldn’t pull off the miracle win, however retaining this sport shut was a miracle inside itself. I don’t assume Rivers will probably be too mad concerning the loss. He received the possibility to go well with again up one final time and add one other landing to his illustrious NFL profession. Rivers was weeks away from being eligible for the Corridor of Fame, and threw that away simply to get another likelihood to throw on the helmet and pads. He’s a man who loves soccer to his core, and it’s not one thing you at all times see within the NFL.
Additionally, every time he will get again to teaching highschool soccer, I’m positive he received’t thoughts displaying his guys that he can nonetheless cook dinner them if given the possibility.
