Following a devastating season-ending injury to starting quarterback Daniel Jones in December, the Indianapolis Colts signed him to the team’s practice squad just days after his birthday. Three nights later, the coaching staff activated him to start against the Seattle Seahawks as Indianapolis remained in pursuit of a playoff spot. For most quarterbacks still chasing their opportunity in the NFL, suiting up for a meaningful late-season game would be the ultimate birthday gift.
Not for Philip Rivers.
Rivers had just turned 44 years old and had officially retired from football four years earlier. At the time, he was serving as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, seemingly settling into the next chapter of his life. Yet, despite a decorated football résumé, Rivers’ story didn’t appear to be finished.
Rivers played collegiately at NC State, where he shattered nearly every school and ACC passing record. Under his leadership, the Wolfpack appeared in four consecutive bowl games, winning three of them. A standout from the moment he arrived in Raleigh, Rivers left an indelible mark on the program, so much so that NC State retired his No. 17 jersey in his honour. There will never be another.
Rivers went on to be selected as the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft. Originally picked by the New York Giants, he was traded immediately to the San Diego Chargers. Needing some time to develop his game, he spent his first couple of professional seasons as a backup. Eventually, the former Wolfpack star did earn a starting role. In 2007, he led the Chargers to their first playoff victories since 1994, marking the beginning of a remarkable run.
Rivers spent 16 seasons in a Chargers uniform, cementing himself as one of the most important players in franchise history. He became known for his fierce leadership, consistency, infectious personality, and pinpoint accuracy. However, his career lacks a major highlight – despite being selected to the Pro Bowl eight times, he never took the Chargers to the Super Bowl. No Heisman, no MVP awards. He was always outshined by greats like Tom Brady, Eli and Payton Manning, or Drew Breece. During his long NFL journey, he never fully stepped out of their shadow.
In February 2020, Rivers and the Chargers mutually agreed he wouldn’t re-sign with the team and would enter free agency. A month later, he signed a one-year deal with the Colts. During that season, he passed Dan Marino to move into fifth place on the all-time passing list. A few games later, he also passed him in passing touchdowns, moving into fifth place in history as well. Rivers took the Colts to the playoffs, but Indianapolis lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round.
After 17 seasons, the quarterback knew his time had run out. “It's just time. It's just right,” said Rivers in January 2021. He waved professional football goodbye, hung up the cleats, and moved on. He became a high school coach, started mentoring young players, and fully enjoyed time with his ten children. By all accounts, Rivers was content.
He thought he was done with the NFL. But the NFL wasn’t done with him.
Four years after announcing his retirement, the phone rang again. Once more, it was the Colts. The team was in the playoff hunt but had lost its starting quarterback. They needed someone experienced, confident, and capable of handling high-pressure moments. Rivers checked every box — and agreed to return.
Despite his efforts though, the Colts ended up falling short of their postseason hopes. They went 0-3 under Rivers, although he still recorded a 63% competition rate and a rating of 80.2. After being eliminated from the playoffs, he announced he would come back to his high school coaching job. Or so he thought.
Once again, the pull of the NFL proved stronger than expected. Rivers caught the attention of franchises searching for leadership on the coaching side. Despite having no collegiate or professional coaching experience, the Buffalo Bills interviewed him for their head coaching vacancy.
“I’m told that even if he isn’t hired as the head coach, the Bills would like to have him on the staff in some way, i.e. QBs coach. He and Josh Allen have a tremendous relationship, and as far as seeing the game goes, few are better than Rivers,” reported Jarrett Bailey via X.
Allen, the league’s reigning MVP, had words of praise for Rivers when he suited up for the Colts again. “Rivers’ return is really cool,” Allen said in December. “I didn't know what to expect, obviously, when he came back, but it's really awesome. Just the way that he’s gone back out there. He was deciphering that defence extremely well and making some plays for his team, and it was inspiring to watch.”
It seemed like the two playmaking legends would get along extremely well. The Bills are desperately searching for new impulses, ideas, and guidance, with Allen yet to make the Super Bowl. Since joining the team in 2018, he has taken the Bills to the postseason six times; unfortunately, Buffalo have been unable to secure an AFC title so far. In the eyes of the Bills’ leadership, Rivers would perhaps be able to change that.
“I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level," Rivers said. "I know enough about the game and about the guys, and from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie, all that comes with it. But again, that's not something that I'm sitting here pursuing.”
Days after the interview though, Rivers has decided to withdraw from the head coaching consideration. However, he did not specify whether he would be interested in any other staff position.
No doubt Rivers knows fame like nobody else and could lead a team. He is an interesting coaching candidate, and he has proven over and over that he belongs to the league. No matter how often he steps away, the league seems to pull him back in. Maybe he was never meant to leave at all.