Witnessing 44-year-old, five-year retired Philip Rivers return to the NFL is such a surreal delight. It’s quickly turned from a ludicrous suggestion to a reality, with the Colts signing Rivers to their practice squad on Tuesday, with there being every indication he could start this weekend against the Seahawks.
7 bizarre facts about Philip Rivers’ comeback
Call him the OLD gunslinger.
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You probably already know that it will turn back the clock on his potential entrance into Canton, but here are 7 other wild facts about Rivers making a return that you might not know.
No. 1: Rivers isn’t the first QB to make a comeback after a five-year retirement
Journeyman Steve DeBerg had a somewhat similar return to the NFL in 1998 with the Atlanta Falcons. DeBerg retired from the NFL in 1993 with the Miami Dolphins, and had no intention of playing again — until Falcons head coach Dan Reeves signed him as a backup. DeBerg and Reeves were familiar from their time on the Giants staff, where DeBerg was a QB coach under Reeves. Initially brought in for a player-coach role, DeBerg was thrust into the starting lineup due to injury.
That start wasn’t good. DeBerg went 9-for-20, for 117 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons would go on to the Super Bowl, where they lost to John Elway and the Broncos.
No. 2: When Philip Rivers entered the NFL in 2004 …
- Shrek 2 was the highest grossing movie
- Confessions by Usher was the No. 1 album
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was the most-watched TV show
- The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won the Oscar for best picture
No. 3: This will be the 5th time Rivers has played the Seahawks
When Philip Rivers first played against Seattle they were led by Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander was the Seahawks’ running back. The Chargers won 20-17 thanks largely to 3.5 sacks from Shawne Merriman in the game.
No. 4: This will be the first time in Rivers’ football life that he won’t be wearing No. 17
The No. 17 has been part of Rivers’ entire career. He wore the number at Athens High School in Alabama, then went on to wear it at N.C. State, with the Chargers, and during his season with the Colts in 2020.
Now he’s taking the No. 11 for the first time ever, because his signature No. 17 was worn by Daniel Jones this season, the player he’s replacing due to injury.
Update: Rivers IS wearing No. 17 after all. The Colts made an arrangement for Rivers to keep his number due to Jones being out for the season.
No. 5: Rivers is a grandfather
The quarterback, who has 10 children, recently became a grandfather. Rivers’ 23-year-old daughter Halle, who was born in 2002 while he was playing at N.C. State, gave birth in 2024.
Rivers’ grandchild and his youngest son are one year apart.
No. 6: Two of Rivers’ teammates are younger than his daughter
Halle Rivers is older than two current Colts players. Rookie defensive end JT Tuimoloau, and rookie running back DJ Giddens are both 22 years old.
No. 7: Rivers has a chance to become the top passer from his draft class again
As it stood Ben Roethlisberger was narrowly ahead of Rivers on the all-time passing list with 64,088 yards, putting him in 6th place, and Rivers in 7th with 63,440. It would only require Rivers to average 162 yards per game over the final four starts of the season to pass Big Ben and take outright ownership as the best career passer from the 2004 NFL Draft class.
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