Tag: Rivers

Reports: Philip Rivers to interview for Bills’ head-coaching job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After coming out retirement to play three games at the quarterback position, Philip Rivers reportedly is throwing his hat toward one of the NFL’s vacant head-coaching jobs.

Multiple media outlets reported Rivers is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills’ opening on Friday.

Rivers is not alone. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also is meeting with the Bills on Friday, per The Athletic, with the expectation that he will become the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers if he is not hired for any of the league’s available top jobs.

Rivers, 44, has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., since he announced his initial retirement from the NFL after the 2020 season.

NFL Network reported Rivers and Buffalo star quarterback Josh Allen have a strong friendship. Bills owner Terry Pegula noted this week that Allen will be involved in the coaching search on the heels of Sean McDermott’s firing.

Rivers came out of retirement last month after the Indianapolis Colts lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury. He made three starts — all losses — and was quick to note that he was returning to coach at the Alabama school where his son, Gunner, will be the senior quarterback in the fall.

Rivers was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist prior to embarking on the comeback. His candidacy now resets and he will next be eligible for induction in 2031 due to the five-year waiting period after retirement.

He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers (13 in San Diego, three in Los Angeles) and one season (2020) with the Colts before his initial retirement.

Rivers ranks sixth all-time in passing TDs (425) and eighth in passing yards (63,984) in NFL history.

–Field Level Media

Philip Rivers ‘on board’ with any Week 18 QB decision Colts make

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philip Rivers said he has no regrets about coming out of retirement at 44 years old despite losing all three of his starts and knowing that Sunday might have been his final one.

The Colts, who were already eliminated from playoff position, lost their sixth consecutive game with Sunday’s 23-17 setback against Jacksonville to fall to 8-8. Coach Shane Steichen said after the game that he will decide by Tuesday whether to start rookie Riley Leonard in Indianapolis’ season finale at the Houston Texans.

Another potential option is Anthony Richardson, who remains on injured reserve but has participated in limited practice the past two weeks as he recovers from an eye injury.

Despite being unable to salvage the Colts’ season, Rivers said he would make the same decision all over again.

“I’m gonna be on board to do what’s best for the guys,” Rivers said. “If this is the last one, shoot, I told you guys I wasn’t gonna have any regrets about coming back, and I don’t.

“Other than us not winning, right?”

The Colts surprisingly turned to Rivers following a season-ending torn Achilles suffered by Daniel Jones and with Richardson already on IR. Rivers, who has been coaching high school football in Alabama, had not played in the NFL since January 2021.

“If it’s the last one, it’s the last one,” Rivers said. “I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo (in 2021). We’re walking up that tunnel and I was fine with it. And that one had tears, and those few days after it — and I was at peace with that being the last one.

“So certainly, if it is, I got three bonus games that I never saw coming and couldn’t be more thankful that I got the opportunity.”

Rivers has completed 63.0% of his passes for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions while posting an 80.2 passer rating.

“Him coming out one last time and fighting like crazy — it was impressive to see,” Steichen said. “And him being in the locker room with the guys, his fight, his character, his passion for the game — inspirational to a lot of people, not just our players, but people around the world watching football. It was pretty cool.”

Rivers was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist prior to embarking on the comeback. His candidacy now resets and he will next be eligible for induction in 2031 due to the five-year waiting period after retirement.

Rivers spent 16 seasons with the Chargers (13 in San Diego, three in Los Angeles) and one season (2020) with the Colts before his initial retirement.

–Field Level Media

Colts open practice window for QB Anthony Richardson

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The Indianapolis Colts are opening the 21-day practice window for quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has been out two months with an eye injury.

Coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Richardson still has some vision problems stemming from an orbital fracture he suffered during pregame warmups on Oct. 12.

“As I mentioned last week, Anthony returned for physical activity, but he still has some vision limitation in his eye,” Steichen said, per NFL Network. “So we’re gonna get him back on the practice field, get him throwing, doing some scout team reps. It’s just something that he’ll have to manage through the process.”

It is unclear whether Richardson, 23, will be activated to play during the final three games of the regular season for the Colts (8-6), who are staring at matchups against three teams currently occupying a playoff spot: the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

The injury occurred when a pole that Richardson had wrapped an elastic stretch band around snapped and hit him in the face during a warmup stretch routine, according to multiple media reports.

This left Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, with severe swelling that led to temporary vision impairment.

Richardson has been on IR since suffering the freak injury, which required surgery. Following Daniel Jones’ season-ending torn Achilles, the Colts brought Philip Rivers, 44, out of retirement and have rookie Riley Leonard as his backup.

When the season started, Richardson was the backup to Jones, and the Colts moved to 7-1 with their 38-14 win over the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 26. They are 1-5 since and have just a 12% chance of making the playoffs.

Richardson battled through injuries to start 15 games over his first two seasons with the Colts. He has 2,400 career passing yards with 11 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 634 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs over 17 games.

–Field Level Media

Shane Steichen: Colts plan to ride with QB Philip Rivers

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Philip Rivers earned another start for the Indianapolis Colts with his performance Sunday at Seattle, his first NFL game in five seasons.

Head coach Shane Steichen said Monday Rivers is the planned QB this week as Anthony Richardson Sr. received medical clearance to return to some team activities.

Indianapolis dropped to 8-6 with an 18-16 loss to the Seahawks after leading the game with less than two minutes remaining. Rivers, in his first game since Jan. 9, 2021, completed a key pass to Alec Pierce after the two-minute warning to set up Blake Grupe’s 60-yard field goal for a 16-15 lead.

The Seahawks answered with a game-winning field goal, but that didn’t change the quarterback depth chart, Steichen said Monday.

“We didn’t bring him in here to sit on the bench, I’ll say that” Steichen said. “He’s excited for this challenge. We obviously got to take it one week at a time and then we go from there.”

The urgency of the Colts’ current situation is clear after the AFC South division-leading Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) and Houston Texans (9-5) both won.

Steichen said Monday he’s leaving the ball in the hands of Rivers with the Colts hosting the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) in Indianapolis on ‘Monday Night Football’ on Dec. 22.

“I think obviously him being off for that long, obviously there was some unknown. But for him to go out there and do what he did to put us in a position to win in a hostile environment after that long of a layoff was pretty impressive,” Steichen said. “Getting us into the right plays, managing the game, I thought he was phenomenal in that regard. On the sidelines, his leadership, all those things that he brings to our team will be beneficial for all of us.”

For his part, Rivers expressed confidence in his wideouts despite the limited time with his new teammates.

“Obviously I’ve been around (Michael Pittman Jr.), but not the other guys in person,” Rivers said. “So, like I said, those kind of plays — I had full trust in those. Those are-trust building … But we don’t have time – it’s not like we’re building this thing out. You’re looking at 21 days left, you know, whatever, to find a way to get in.”

The Colts might be working this week without left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who exited the game on the final drive with an elbow injury. Steichen said the team is in wait-and-see mode on Raimann leading up to the Week 16 game. Starting right tackle Braden Smith (concussion/neck) was placed on injured reserve last week.

Former first-round pick Richardson was medically cleared to begin ramping up from his eye injury. Richardson was placed on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone in October. Steichen said there is no discussion of Richardson being active or even practicing right now, because they first want him to get comfortable in the weight room and conduct other team activities.

–Field Level Media

Jason Myers nails six field goals as Seahawks spoil Philip Rivers Colts return

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jason Myers kicked a franchise-record six field goals, the last a 56-yarder with 18 seconds remaining, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the visiting Indianapolis Colts 18-16 Sunday, spoiling the return of Philip Rivers.

Rivers, the 44-year-old high school coach and grandfather, an eight-time Pro Bowl participant and Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist who retired after the 2020 season, was signed earlier in the week to replace the injured Daniel Jones.

Rivers completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The pick came on a desperation heave with four seconds left.

Indianapolis’ Blake Grupe booted three field goals, with his 60-yarder with 47 seconds to go giving the Colts (8-6) a 16-15 lead.

But Seattle’s Sam Darnold completed a pair of passes to Rashid Shaheed to get the Seahawks (11-3) into range for Myers’ winner. Myers kicked a 30-yarder with 2:27 left to give Seattle its first lead of the day.

Darnold was 22 of 36 for 271 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba making seven receptions for 113 yards as the Seahawks won their fourth game in a row.

The Colts’ Jonathan Taylor rushed for 87 yards on 25 carries, but they suffered their fourth straight defeat.

The Colts took a 13-6 halftime lead, with Rivers throwing an 8-yard scoring strike to Josh Downs on third-and-4 with 1:33 remaining in the second quarter.

The teams traded field goals in the opening quarter, both converting on their second possessions. Grupe made it 3-0 with a 42-yarder and Myers answered from 47 yards.

Rivers’ most awkward moment came early in the second quarter, when he dropped back to pass and slipped on the painted Seahawks’ logo at midfield. He struggled to get back to his feet but scrambled forward to limit his loss on the play to 2 yards. Grupe kicked a 54-yarder later in the drive to give the Colts a 6-3 lead.

The Colts marched 58 yards in 10 plays on the TD drive, with Rivers completing a 9-yard pass to Ameer Abdullah, a 17-yarder to rookie tight end Tyler Warren and a 7-yarder to Taylor before hitting Downs on a crossing route.

Myers kicked a 52-yarder on the final play of the half to pull Seattle within a touchdown.

Myers added a 46-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half and a 32-yarder early in the fourth quarter as the Seahawks cut their deficit to 13-12.

–Field Level Media

Colts could turn to Philip Rivers in battle vs. Seahawks, Father Time

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Philip Rivers didn’t sound like a guy coming out of retirement to sit on the bench.

Rivers, 44, an eight-time Pro Bowl participant and Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist, was signed to the practice squad by Indianapolis on Wednesday, and coach Shane Steichen didn’t rule out the possibility Rivers could play Sunday when the Colts visit the Seattle Seahawks.

No matter that Rivers, a grandfather, hasn’t played since the 2020 season.

“Something about it excited me, and it’s kind of one of those deals, the door opens and you either walk through it and find out if you can do it or you run from it,” Rivers said. “I know there’s risk involved, what may or may not happen, but the only way to find out is going for it.”

Colts starter Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon last weekend in a 36-19 loss at Jacksonville, and rookie backup Riley Leonard injured his right knee later in the game.

With Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, still on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone, the Colts promoted Brett Rypien, who hasn’t started since 2023, from the practice squad to the active roster. They then signed Rivers, who spent his final NFL campaign with the Colts after 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.

Rivers had been coaching the St. Michael Catholic High School team in Fairhope, Ala., for the past five years.

Steichen said the Colts (8-5) gave Rivers a call over the weekend.

“He said, ‘Heck yeah, I’m interested,’” Steichen said. “So he slept on it, and then we called him back Monday morning and he said, ‘I need to get up there and throw in that building.’ So he came in here, and he didn’t forget how to throw a football.”

Rivers admitted he might be a few pounds over his playing weight.

“It’s not what it was when I walked away,” Rivers said. “I follow up with (the fact) that I never ran away from anybody anyway.”

Leonard was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, so the former Duke and Notre Dame standout might get his first NFL start on Sunday. He has completed 18 of 31 passes for 145 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in two appearances off the bench.

“We’ll see how the week goes,” said Steichen, whose team has taken three straight losses to drop a game behind the division-leading Jaguars in the AFC South. “We’ll get to the end of the week and make that decision.”

The Seahawks (10-3) have won three in a row, including a 37-9 victory last Sunday at Atlanta, and are tied with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West.

This will be the third straight week in which the Seahawks will face a backup quarterback. They blanked Minnesota and rookie QB Max Brosmer 26-0 two weeks ago before limiting the Falcons and Kirk Cousins to three field goals last weekend.

Seattle exploded for 31 second-half points at Atlanta to get its offense untracked.

“I feel like we’re in a good spot,” Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold said. “We’ve just got to continue to harp on the details of everything. We know that in the locker room, and we’ll do a good job of that throughout the week.”

The Colts practiced on Wednesday without cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), wide receiver Anthony Gould (foot), defensive end Tyquan Lewis (ankle) and offensive tackle Braden Smith (concussion/neck). Tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee) was the only member of the Seahawks to sit out entirely on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Colts officially add QB Philip Rivers, 44, to practice squad

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts made their reunion with former quarterback Philip Rivers official Wednesday, adding the 44-year-old to the practice squad before his first team workout in the NFL since 2021.

Indianapolis lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the season in their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and Monday night worked out Rivers because of injuries behind Jones.

The Colts also signed kicker Blake Grupe and quarterback Brett Rypien to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. (concussion) was placed on injured reserve, and center Jimmy Morrissey also was assigned to the practice squad.

The 44-year-old Rivers was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times during his 17-season career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and Colts. He spent the 2000 season in Indianapolis and threw for more than 4,000 yards for the 12th time in 13 seasons, tossing 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the 11-5 squad.

Rivers ranks seventh in NFL history with 63,440 passing yards and sixth with 421 touchdown passes.

The Colts signed the veteran Rypien, 29, to the practice squad on Oct. 15, marking his eighth team. He has played in 11 career games (four starts), thrown for 950 yards and has four touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He will back up Riley Leonard, who assumes the starting spot from Jones. But Leonard’s status won’t be known until later Wednesday. Head coach Shane Steichen said Leonard, a rookie sixth-round pick, is dealing with a knee injury.

Rypien potentially could be called on Sunday for the Colts (8-5) at the Seattle Seahawks with Rivers entering the conversation for Week 16. The Colts host the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” next week.

Grupe, 27, was signed to the practice squad on Dec. 3 and elevated for the Jacksonville games, making two field goals and an extra point. He has played in 46 career games with the Colts (2025) and New Orleans Saints (2023-25).

Ward, 29, is in the concussion protocol for the third time this season.

“I think that’s what’s most important, and what’s most paramount right now, is how he is as human,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said Tuesday. “Forget about the football player part of it. I just really want him to be OK and that’s what’s most important, dealing with all that right now.

“It’s just unfortunate. I just want what’s best for him and his family.”

Morrissey, 27, signed with the Colts on Sept. 16 and was assigned to the practice squad. He was released after Week 13 and re-signed. The Colts are his fourth team, and he has appeared in 14 career games (four starts).

–Field Level Media

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald headline HOF semifinalists

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In their first year on the ballot, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore and Jason Witten are semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

They were among the 26 modern era candidates announced on Tuesday, a list that will be whittled down to 15 finalists by a 50-member selection committee.

Four returning finalists are already locked into the last 15 after reaching the final seven in 2025: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.

Eight others are returning finalists: Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.

The other nine semifinalists, including first-timers Lomas Brown and Kevin Williams, are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis.

In addition to voting on 15 modern era finalists before the Super Bowl in February, the selection committee will consider three seniors, one coach and one contributor.

Between four and eight new members will become the Class of 2026. In the first year of this format in 2025 only four men got in.

Brees trails only Tom Brady on the all-time list for passing yards (80,358) and touchdown passes (571) and led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title.

Fitzgerald ranks second only to Jerry Rice in receiving yards (17,492) and receptions (1,432) and played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals.

Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection who played 16 of his 17 seasons with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers and passed for 63,440 yards and 421 TDs.

Gore ranks third on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards, trailing only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. He was named to five Pro Bowls.

Witten made 11 Pro Bowls, played 16 of his 17 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and ranks No. 2 among tight ends in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046).

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks to throw a pass in the second quarter wildcard playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Philip Rivers not ruling out late-season return to NFL

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philip Rivers is about to embark on his first season as a high school head coach in Alabama but the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback isn’t ruling out a return to the NFL later this season.

The 39-year-old Rivers retired seven months ago after 17 stellar NFL seasons, but he told the Los Angeles Times that he isn’t closing the door on playing this season.

“I’m just going to stay ready,” Rivers said. “I want to make sure I’m very clear: I’m not predicting I will play in December or January, for that matter. One, you’ve got to have somebody who wants you, and two, it’s got to be right.

“But I have not completely ruled that out.”

Conditioning might be an issue with Rivers not part of an NFL training camp. He indicated that he isn’t currently in playing shape.

“I’m not quite there,” Rivers said. “I’m getting back there. I wouldn’t have made weight if I had to report (to training camp) last week, that’s for sure. But I am getting back into the lifting and running, and shoot, I occasionally throw a ball around out here in this heat. It’s not too hard to get a good lather going.”

Rivers is coaching St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., while the Indianapolis Colts, his team last season, have an unstable quarterback situation.

Carson Wentz, the quarterback acquired to replace Rivers as the starter, is slated to miss up to 12 weeks after undergoing foot surgery. Unproven Jacob Eason may be the team’s Week 1 starter.

Rivers recorded 4,169 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes while playing through a nagging toe injury in 2020. He led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth, but the Buffalo Bills edged the Colts 27-24 in the wild-card round.

Rivers spent the first 16 seasons of his career with the Chargers — 13 seasons in San Diego, three in Los Angeles. He has a Hall of Fame resume by ranking fifth on the all-time passing list with 63,440 yards, behind Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, and fifth in career TD passes with 421 behind Brady, Brees, Manning and Favre.

–Field Level Media

Aug 24, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck says goodbye to Colts owner Jim Irsay after announcing his retirement in a press conference after the game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Colts owner Jim Irsay would ‘love’ Andrew Luck at QB

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In a perfect world, Andrew Luck would be the answer to the Colts’ questions at quarterback. But owner Jim Irsay said Wednesday that Indianapolis understands that will not be an option in 2021.

Irsay quipped on Wednesday that he plans to frequently check his fax machine, a reference to the way Michael Jordan announced his return to basketball from a brief baseball-motivated retirement.

“I really think it kind of stands where it stands,” Irsay said. “I think, like I’ve said before, Andrew’s retired.”

Luck, 31, was the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft. He retired during the 2019 preseason and has recently told friends, including just-retired Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo, he’s loving life as a dad.

“He knows how much we’d love to have him be our quarterback, there’s just no question about that,” Irsay said. “But at the same time, we know for it to work out, he has to be the one that says, ‘You know what? I’m ready. I want to really create a little bit of history, in unprecedented aspects.”

Irsay said the Colts will embrace the “opportunity” to get better at quarterback and has already met for hours with coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard about finding Philip Rivers’ replacement this offseason. Rivers retired last week after one season with the Colts, who went 11-5 and reached an AFC wild-card game.

The next starting quarterback for the Colts will be the team’s fourth in as many seasons, barring Luck’s return or the Colts choosing to give Jacoby Brissett another shot as No. 1.

Irsay said he believes the Colts are “close” to being title contenders.

They are being linked to veteran quarterbacks who could be on the trade market this offseason such as Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions.

But Irsay doesn’t think Luck will turn out to be the answer this time. He does sound willing to be wrong.

“I think he’s happy, he’s raising his daughter, he has a wonderful family,” Irsay said. “He’s a great Colt and he knows that he can come back any time he wants, but at the same time, we respect that he’s made that decision.”

Luck, the NFL’s No. 1 overall draft pick by the Colts in 2012 out of Stanford, went 53-33 as a starter over six seasons in Indianapolis. He threw for 23,671 yards with 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions. His 40 TD passes in 2014 led the NFL. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times, including in his final season of 2018.

–Field Level Media