NFL Rumors: Colts To Start 44-Year-Old QB Philip Rivers

December 12, 2025

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers during practice in 2025.

The Indianapolis Colts appear ready to start Philip Rivers in Week 15, marking one of the most surprising midseason turns in recent NFL memory. 

With Daniel Jones out for the year and both Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson sidelined, Indianapolis needed help fast, and the 44-year-old Rivers answered the call just five days after watching from home. 

After two full practices this week, the Colts are preparing as if Rivers will be under center against the Seattle Seahawks, reuniting him with head coach Shane Steichen in an offense he already knows inside out.

Colts Turn to Familiar Face With Playoff Stakes Rising

Rivers hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2020, but Steichen and Colts leadership believe his processing speed and familiarity with the system give Indianapolis its best chance to stabilize an 8–5 team fighting for playoff positioning. 

The AFC South race has tightened behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, turning this matchup into a must-win for a Colts team that started the year 7–1 before injuries hit. Even Seattle is preparing for him as the starter, with head coach Mike Macdonald calling Rivers “one of the best competitors in the history of the NFL.”

Family Reaction, Nerves, and a Hall of Fame Delay

Rivers admitted the decision came with nerves, from him, his wife, and even his kids, but said the chance “felt right” after Steichen reached out. 

His return also resets his Hall of Fame eligibility clock, though Rivers insisted that wasn’t a factor. After nearly five years away, coaching high school football and raising 10 kids, the veteran quarterback now finds himself unexpectedly thrust back into the spotlight with a chance to push the Colts toward the postseason once again.

Photo Credit: Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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