Brady Comments on Rivers’ Possible Return
Tom Brady recently made a lighthearted comment regarding Philip Rivers, the 44-year-old quarterback, suggesting it would be absurd for him to come out of retirement to join the Colts.
In a discussion during a recent performance, Brady, who himself returned from a brief retirement to play for the Buccaneers in March 2022, shared his take on Rivers possibly returning to action after stepping away for five years. “Who retires, then unretirees, only to retire again? It’s a bit silly for Phillip to consider that,” he joked. “But hey, I’m glad he’s doing what he loves.”
This conversation popped up as Fox NFL analyst Brady discussed Rivers’ potential return amid the Colts’ quarterback troubles. Following the non-contact Achilles injury to Daniel Jones during a recent game, host Colin Cowherd raised the question of whether Brady himself might consider making a comeback at 48.
“Of course, you can come back,” Brady replied. “But for me, that’s not an option anymore. I’m a minority owner of the Raiders, so I can’t just unretire.”
Brady, renowned for his six Super Bowl victories during his 20 seasons with the Patriots, first announced his retirement in February 2020 but returned to play three additional seasons with Tampa Bay. His first year there included a Super Bowl win against the Chiefs.
In the following season, at 44, he achieved a remarkable 13-4 record, topped the NFL in passing yards (5,316), touchdowns (43), and first downs, before facing an early playoff exit.
Looking at Rivers, who last played for the Colts in the 2020-21 season, Brady expressed excitement at the prospect of Rivers returning to the field. “If he’s on the field, that’s pretty cool. It just shows how much he loves the game and what he can still do.”
The conversation around Rivers’ age and athleticism has intensified since the Colts signed him to their practice squad following Jones’ injury.
Brady emphasized the mental aspect of being a quarterback. “It’s such a mental game for quarterbacks,” he explained, recalling a saying from his time at the University of Michigan: “The mental and the physical are intertwined.” You really have to question whether you can still throw, take hits, and manage the pocket.
“If Phillip’s been keeping up, we’ll all get to see it when they play in Seattle on Sunday.”
Colts head coach Shane Steichen hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Rivers starting against the Seahawks this Sunday.
Rivers has an impressive history, spending 16 seasons with the Chargers before joining the Colts in 2020, where he helped the team finish with an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance in what became their last postseason run.
