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Philip Rivers played his first NFL game in 1,800 days Sunday, making an impressive comeback at age 44 to help a depleted Colts quarterback room.
In his first game in five years, Rivers had an efficient 120 yards plus a touchdown and an interception in an 18–16 loss to the Seahawks.
Rivers’ decision to come out of retirement pushed his Hall of Fame eligibility back five years. It also reset another clock for five years: his NFL-provided health insurance.
As part of benefits collectively bargained with the NFLPA, players who are “vested” by spending three years on a roster can receive five years of free health and dental insurance for two adults and three or more children after they retire.
Rivers originally retired in January 2021, and his health insurance benefits were set to expire next August.
Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, have 10 children; his oldest is 23 and can still be on the family plan for three more years under the Affordable Care Act.
The longtime Chargers QB has been the head coach at St. Michael’s High School in Alabama for the last five years. His son Gunner is the team’s starting quarterback.
If Rivers retires again at the end of the season, his NFL health insurance coverage would run from September 2026 to August 2031.
When Venus Williams had a career resurgence at age 45 this year, she said that she returned in part for the health benefits. “I had to come back for the insurance,” Williams said.
Rivers made roughly $244 million in his playing career, according to Spotrac.
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