Philip Rivers Makes a Surprising NFL Comeback
It’s pretty surreal to witness Philip Rivers, now 44, making a comeback to the NFL after stepping away for five years. What started as an outrageous idea has quickly transformed into reality with the Colts signing him to their practice squad on Tuesday. It seems likely he could take the field as a starter against the Seahawks this weekend.
You might already realize that this might enhance his chances for a spot in Canton, but there are some intriguing details about Rivers’ return that you may not have heard of.
Part 1: Rivers is not the first QB to return after five years.
Steve DeBerg found himself in a similar position when he came back to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in 1998. DeBerg had retired in 1993 while with the Dolphins, but he was signed by Falcons head coach Dan Reeves as a backup, despite having no desire to return to the game at the time. Reeves and DeBerg had a history from their days with the Giants, where DeBerg was a QB coach. Initially, he was supposed to step in as a player-coach, but he eventually found himself starting due to injuries to other quarterbacks.
Unfortunately, his performance fell short—he completed just 9 of 20 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Still, the Falcons made it to the Super Bowl, though they lost to John Elway and the Broncos.
Part 2: A look back at 2004 when Rivers entered the NFL…
- Shrek 2 reigned as the top-grossing film.
- Usher’s album hit No. 1 on the charts.
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was the most-watched show on TV.
- Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won the Oscar for Best Picture.
No. 3: Rivers faces the Seahawks for the fifth time.
When Rivers first played Seattle, the team featured quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander. The Chargers secured a 20-17 victory, thanks in part to Shawne Merriman’s impressive performance, which included 3.5 sacks.
Part 4: A change in jersey number.
Throughout his career, Rivers famously wore the number 17, starting from high school in Alabama, through his college years at North Carolina State, and in his time with the Chargers and Colts. Now, he will don number 11 for the first time because his usual number is currently taken by injured backup Daniel Jones.
Part 5: Family milestones.
Rivers recently became a grandfather; his 23-year-old daughter, Halle, welcomed a baby recently. She was born while he was at North Carolina State, which adds an interesting layer to his return.
It’s amusing that Rivers’ grandson and youngest son are only one year apart in age.
6th place: Two teammates are younger than his daughter.
Interestingly, Rivers’ daughter is older than two current Colts rookies, defensive end JT Tuimorow and running back DJ Giddens, both of whom are 22.
No. 7: Aiming for passing records.
Rivers has the opportunity to become the top passer from the 2004 draft class again. Currently, Ben Roethlisberger sits slightly ahead of Rivers in all-time passing yards, with 64,088 to Rivers’ 63,440. If Rivers averages 162 yards per game in the upcoming four games, he could surpass Roethlisberger, solidifying his legacy as the best passer from his draft year.
