We may not have seen the last of Philip Rivers. Sam Farmer of the LA Times reports (via Twitter) that the quarterback “isn’t closing the door” on returning to the NFL. While the 39-year-old is currently focused on his gig as a high school coach, he’d consider joining a QB-needy squad late in the season.
The 17-year veteran announced his retirement back in January, but that came after a month or so of mulling his decision. At the time, Rivers cited his “growing desire to coach high school football” as reasoning for hanging up his cleats. The 39-year-old still sounds committed to that cause, but Rivers could return to the NFL once the high school season concludes.
Of course, a potential return would be dependent on a job opening. Presumably, Rivers would only be interested in joining a contender, which means a top QB would have to succumb to injury. Plus, these teams might prefer to stick with their in-house options, so Rivers’ list of suitors will probably be limited. Still, these hypothetical suitors could do a whole lot worse; Rivers guided the Colts to an 11-5 record last season while completing 68-percent of his passes for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
That performance was a big reason why the Colts were interested in a reunion. Indy could use someone of Rivers’ caliber right now while Carson Wentz is sidelined. However, the current starter is expected to miss anywhere from five to 12 weeks; even if Wentz returns on the late side of that timeline, it would still only be late October. If Rivers is truly only focused on a late-season return, the Colts probably won’t be a fit.
Rivers spent 16 years with the Chargers before spending the 2020 campaign in Indianapolis. In total, the former fourth-overall pick threw for 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns while earning nine Pro Bowl nods during his career.
With Wentz’s injury, Colts would probably like him to change his mind now.
Yeah Rivers is a good guy I don’t see him agreeing to coach kids and bailing on them mid-season, so if he wants to take the job now I’m sure the Colts would be thrilled, otherwise, they should probably be looking elsewhere.
“Tire World…”
Can I get back to you.. I have a guy in the other line about whitewalls. Haha Major League
“Juuussst a bit outside”
Isn’t Phil focused on “going” for an even DOZEN kids?
He has an offense now. No need for backups.
Does anyone in the NFL retire and actually STAY retired anymore?
Name someone who recently retired and came back besides Jason witten
Gronk
Josh McCown
Not to put words in jawn’s mouth, but I think he/she means “I’m retired but. if such and such happens, then I may not be as retired”
Be like Luke Kuechly, call it a day, be done with it.
Kyle Long
Tim Tebow
I just can’t see rivers coming out of retirement until he cranks out at least 3 more kids. He needs more hands to work the farm
he is very close to career interceptions record
If by very close you mean not at all then yeah, he’s very close.
Come on now Sky .. if he had a really bad year I could see him throwing 127 interceptions and catching Farverah.
Brady falls prey to a freak late season injury. The Bucs sign Rivers and he finally gets his ring.
“Rivers cited his “growing desire to coach high school football” as reasoning for hanging up his cleats”.
Someone should have told Rivers that coaching high school football and coaching the Jets are pretty much the same thing.
He ain’t no Jon Kitna