Colts' Philip Rivers hopes emotional NFL return provides inspiration

Philip Rivers answered the telephone erstwhile the Indianapolis Colts needed it the astir and astir led the squad to an upset triumph implicit the Seattle Seahawks, but fell conscionable short.

The Seahawks were capable to eke retired an 18-16 triumph connected Sunday acknowledgment to kicker Jason Myers’ six tract goals. Rivers had a touchdown successful his return, but couldn’t muster up immoderate much explosive discourtesy successful the 2nd half. He gave arsenic gritty of a show arsenic 44-year-old subordinate who hadn’t played successful astir 5 years could.

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Indianapolis Colts backmost Philip Rivers walks connected the sideline during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Seattle.  (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Back location successful Alabama, the precocious schoolhouse shot squad helium coaches watched arsenic the Colts backmost attempted to usher his squad to a victory. Rivers had been coaching St. Michael Catholic High School shot earlier helium returned to the gridiron. He said helium hoped helium could person provided immoderate inspiration for the youngsters.

"Maybe it volition animate oregon thatch not to tally oregon beryllium frightened of what whitethorn oregon whitethorn not happen," Rivers said aft the game. "Hopefully, I deliberation of my sons and those shot players that I’m successful complaint of astatine the school, they’ll accidental like, ‘Crap, manager wasn’t scared.’

"There is doubt, and it’s real. The guaranteed harmless stake is to spell location oregon to not spell for it, and the different 1 is, ‘Shoot, let’s spot what happens.’ I anticipation successful that consciousness that tin beryllium a affirmative to immoderate young boys, oregon young people."

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Indianapolis Colts backmost Philip Rivers (17) reacts aft throwing an interception during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Seattle.  (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Rivers entered an exclusive nine erstwhile helium threw a touchdown walk to Josh Downs. He became the 5th subordinate successful NFL past to propulsion a TD walk astatine property 44 oregon older, joining Tom Brady, George Blanda, Steve DeBerg and Vinny Testaverde.

"It’s been 1,800 days since I’ve thrown a touchdown — oregon interception for that matter. So we person some those (boxes) checked," Rivers said.

Just past month, Rivers was named arsenic 1 of the 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s people of 2026. But his eligibility volition reset due to the fact that of his quality successful the game.

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Now, the earliest Rivers tin beryllium a campaigner is for the people of 2031.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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