Philip Rivers’ remarkable return to the NFL has come to an end just as rapidly as it first materialized.
The Indianapolis Colts quarterback, who came out of retirement three weeks ago to rejoin his former team following a five-year break, is expected to sit out the team’s season finale Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports. Rookie Riley Leonard will instead lead the offense.
With that decision, one of the most unlikely comebacks in NFL history is over.
The Colts were in dire straits in early December when starting quarterback Daniel Jones was lost for the season to a torn Achilles. Already spiraling after a sizzling start to the season, the Colts were without a true backup as second-stringer Anthony Richardson Sr. remained on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone suffered in October.
With Leonard also ailing from a knee injury, Colts coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard reached out to Rivers to see if the 44-year-old – who taught a version of the play-caller’s offense in his role as coach of St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama – would be interested in returning. In the span of a few days, Rivers signed with the team, began practicing and took over as the starter for the Week 15 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rivers would go 0-3 as a starter, and the Colts became the first team in 30 years to miss the playoffs after starting the season 8-2. But the veteran signal-caller overcame limitations in his arm strength and mobility by manipulating coverages and making quick decisions.
On the season, Rivers finished with 544 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions as well as a 63% completion rate.
The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, one day prior to the team’s 23-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite that, Rivers still played so as not to put Leonard into action after the quarterback did not receive starting reps throughout practice that week.
Rivers, who had been a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class but now must wait another five years before becoming eligible again, has made clear that he will not entertain playing in 2026 and instead will return to his high-school coaching post. Still, independent of the results, the run is one he will remember fondly.
“If this is the last (game), again, I told you guys I wasn’t going to have any regrets about coming back – and I don’t, other than us not winning,” Rivers said Sunday. “It’s been an absolute blast for three weeks.”