Colts Sign 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers to Practice Squad

The Colts are signing a 44-year-old grandfather to their battered quarterback room. 

On Tuesday, the team signed longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers to its practice squad, a day after the 16-year veteran worked out for the team. The news was first reported by ESPN. 

Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020, when he led the Colts to an 11–5 record, which was the team’s most recent postseason appearance. He has been coaching high school football in his home state of Alabama since he retired in January 2021. 

The Colts lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles on Sunday. Backup quarterback Riley Leonard is out with a knee injury, and third-string Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve, making Brett Rypien—who is on the practice squad—the lone healthy body on the depth chart. 

Rivers, who made roughly $244 million in his career, according to Spotrac, is a semifinalist for the 2026 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but would have his eligibility clock reset to 2031 if he is signed to the active roster. 

Colts head coach Shane Steichen has a longstanding relationship with Rivers after being the Chargers quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator, among other positions, from 2014–2019, when Rivers was the team’s starting quarterback. 

The Colts are 8–5, which is just outside the AFC playoff field, and have four games remaining against the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans. Rivers led the Colts to the postseason in 2020 by winning four of the team’s final five regular season games.