Philip Rivers: Coach to QB, No Fear in His Veins
December 15, 2025
What a week it was for 44 year old Philip Rivers. Retired for the last five years, he kept himself in well enough shape to stay ready just in case that call came in. Indy made that call this past week after they lost Daniel Jones for the season to a torn achilles. With so much on the line after trading their next two years of first round picks away, the Colts brought back Rivers, who last played in 2020.
Two weeks ago, he was coaching at a Catholic High School in South Alabama. On December 14th, he was starting in Seattle. Rivers took a question in his post game about being inspirational and responded with: “This isn’t why I’m doing it, I know it’s a story. I wasn’t searching, I was enjoying myself being a coach in South Alabama.” He became a little teary eyed when talking about his own kids and his players by adding, ”don’t be scared of what may or may not happen. I think of my sons and some of those ball players that I’m in charge of at the school that they’ll see, crap, coach wasn’t scared.” Rivers added, “sometimes there’s doubt, and that is real. The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not go for it and the other one is to say, shoot, let’s see what happens.”
It’s safe to say Rivers went for it, and very nearly took a victory on the road in Seattle against one of the top defensive units in the league. He had some early struggles in the game but battled back and ultimately finished 18/27 for 120 yards, 1 td and 1 interception. An incredibly respectable line given he’s been retired for several seasons and hasn’t been hit or thrown an NFL pass since the Covid year.
Rivers closed his presser with one message:
“I’m going to quickly turn my attention to the 49ers. I know it’ll be a Monday Night game. Hopefully Lucas Oil will be rocking, I never got to experience that either. We’re going to fight and scratch and claw, I do know that. We’ll fight like crazy until they tell us the season’s over.”
If Philip Rivers can improve on his performance, which he’ll certainly need to do, he may just be able to save the Colts playoff hopes and get Indianapolis back in the dance for one final run. These last few games will be must watch television for any fans of quarterbacks from 2000’s.
Keith, Author
Keith runs youth flag football leagues by day, and by night he hosts the podcast and writes articles with the confidence of a man who’s been rushing quarterbacks since dial-up. A longtime flag football DE and lifelong Falcons fan, he’s no stranger to heartbreak and enjoys watching the bears get slaughtered each week. Equal parts coach, critic, and chaos, Keith calls it like he sees it… even if it hurts.
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