It’s been 5 years since we final noticed Philip Rivers take the sector within the NFL. Even when he referred to as it quits in 2020, Rivers appeared like a shell of himself. Nonetheless, in 2025, Rivers received another probability to steer an NFL crew 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, if you happen to didn’t get excited to see Rivers again out on the soccer subject, you must be some form 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 need to surrender on what was an incredible 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, in order that they took a shot on the marginally chubby 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 anticipate 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 in opposition to a wonderful Seahawks crew.
That’s one other factor that impressed me. Rivers by no means appeared overwhelmed on the market, particularly with the deck stacked in opposition to him. Moreover all the plain points I’ve beforehand laid out, the Colts have been on the street in one of the 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 in opposition to him, Rivers managed to get the Colts into field-goal vary and gave them the lead with underneath a minute to play. Then, in typical Philip Rivers style, 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 preserving this sport shut was a miracle inside itself. I don’t assume Rivers can be too mad in regards to the loss. He received the possibility to swimsuit 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 probability to throw on the helmet and pads. He’s a man who loves soccer to his core, and it’s not one thing you all the time see within the NFL.
Additionally, every time he will get again to teaching highschool soccer, I’m positive he gained’t thoughts exhibiting his guys that he can nonetheless cook dinner them if given the possibility.
