Move over, Aaron Rodgers. Step aside, Joe Flacco. There’s a new – or rather, old – oldest quarterback in the NFL.
The Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday are signing 17-year NFL veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad, according to multiple reports.
Rivers, who turned 44 on Dec. 8, has not played in the NFL since his one-year stint with Indianapolis in 2020. The long-time Chargers standout signed a deal with the Los Angeles-based franchise over the summer to officially retire as a member of the team he spent 16 years with.
Momentum toward a return for Rivers started to pick up on Monday. The Colts brought Rivers in for a workout that day before both sides mulled their options, according to multiple reports.
Prior to this year’s surprise transaction, Rivers had been another team’s contingency plan. NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero pointed out that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said his team would have attempted to sign the veteran quarterback to play in Super Bowl 57 in 2023.
The 49ers lost to the Eagles in the NFC championship game that year after Brock Purdy’s elbow injury, so Rivers did not make his return at the time.
Rivers is currently a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. If he is elevated to the active roster, his eligibility would reset, leaving him ineligible for induction until at least 2031.
The Colts, who have lost four of their last five games and dropped out of the AFC playoff picture, face the Seattle Seahawks on the road Sunday.
Why are the Colts signing Philip Rivers?
The Colts are turning to Rivers in a moment of desperation. Indianapolis has no fully healthy quarterbacks on its active roster in Week 15.
Starting quarterback Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14. Backup quarterback Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone that he sustained during pregame warmups in Week 6. Third-string quarterback Riley Leonard suffered a strained knee ligament after entering Week 14’s game for the injured Jones.
Leonard is the healthiest as Week 15 approaches, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the rookie is week-to-week with his knee injury.
Along with Rivers, the Colts also have Brett Rypien on their practice squad. Otherwise, rookie tight end Tyler Warren is Indianapolis’ emergency quarterback, according to FOX59/CBS4 Sports’ Mike Chappell.
How old is Philip Rivers?
Rivers is 44 years old. He celebrated his most recent birthday on Monday, Dec. 8.
Philip Rivers career stats
Rivers played 17 years in the NFL prior to his signing with the Colts’ practice squad Tuesday.
Here are his career stats from 16 seasons with the Chargers and one (2020) with the Colts:
Record: 134-106
Completion rate: 5,277-of-8,134 (64.9%)
Passing yards: 63,440
Passing touchdowns: 421
Interceptions: 209
Passer rating: 95.2
Rivers has never won a Super Bowl. He came closest in 2007, when he led the Chargers to the AFC championship game before losing to Tom Brady and the then-undefeated New England Patriots.
Rivers earned eight Pro Bowl nods in 17 seasons and won the 2013 Comeback Player of the Year Award.