For a brief moment, Philip Rivers was about to have the best moment of his incredible return to the NFL. But that wasn’t the case for the 44-year-old, who ended his five-year retirement with the Indianapolis Colts this week.
In their heyday, reverses and two-minute drills became somewhat synonymous. There was also a chance to defeat the Seattle Seahawks, who were chasing the Super Bowl.
Leading 15-13, Rivers and the Colts were within field-goal range, but Blake Gloup’s 60-yard kick cracked the post with 47 seconds left to give Indianapolis a one-point lead.
There was still plenty of time for Sam Darnold to march downfield in Seattle and score Jason Myers’ game-winning 56-yard field goal, breaking the hearts of Colts fans and nostalgia buffs alike.
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Grandfather Philip Rivers throws first touchdown pass in five years for the Indianapolis Colts
“I’m grateful to be there and it was a lot of fun,” Rivers said. “But obviously the feeling right now is disappointment. This is not about me.
“Obviously we’re all disappointed because our team was dismantling like crazy to survive and make it to the postseason.
“We’re almost there.”
The Colts have lost their fourth straight game, 18-16, and are on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether, finishing fifth in their last six games as a season that started 7-1 as an unlikely contender has faltered.
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Sky Sports’ Neil Reynolds reviews the return of 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad five years after retiring following quarterback Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles injury.
Rivers was the talk of the week after signing to the Colts’ practice squad on Tuesday following the news that Daniel Jones will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.
He was then confirmed to start Sunday’s game in his first NFL outing since retiring after 16 seasons with the Chargers and the end of the 2020 season with the Colts. Mr. Rivers is the head coach of the St. Michael Catholic High School football team in Alabama.
“Maybe it inspires and teaches kids not to be afraid and not run because they don’t know what’s going to happen,” Rivers said. “Hopefully, certainly, I think of my sons and the ball players that I coach at school and they look at me and say, ‘Hey, coach wasn’t scared.’ I have my doubts, but that’s the reality. Again, the safe bet is not to go for it. The other one is, ‘Let’s shoot it and see what happens.’
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Sky Sports’ Neil Reynolds reviews the return of 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad five years after retiring following quarterback Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles injury.
Rivers completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown pass to Josh Downs and an interception, and Lou Anarumo’s defense thwarted Darnold and the Seahawks’ offense for much of the game.
“If I can stay healthy, I feel good and it’s going to get better as we go along,” Rivers said. “But the thing is, we have to win. If we don’t win, it doesn’t really matter how the game goes because it’s over in three weeks. So that’s the problem.”
“But it’s going to keep getting better. I mean, this is obviously the first game and we’re talking three days of practice.”
Although he admitted he missed the jackpot, he welcomed his return to action.
“I never cared about that part,” he said. “My wife always says I’m crazy because in the last three or four years I’ve said, ‘I wish I could just throw one pitch and get hit hard.'” She was like, ‘That’s not normal.’ ”
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