Can a 44-Year-Old Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Lead the Colts to the Super Bowl?
During the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 14 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting quarterback Daniel Jones reportedly tore his Achilles tendon, placing him on the IR for the rest of the season. Colts backup quarterback Riley Leonard has also been dealing with his own injury, a strained knee ligament. This injury has him out on a week-to-week basis, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be able to play Sunday in Seattle against the Seahawks. These two injuries have made Indianapolis consider its next valuable options. So, they’ve decided to bring in former Chargers and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers in for a workout. Rivers, who is 44 years old, is now a grandfather and hasn’t played in the NFL since 2020, could possibly be the Colts’ next quarterback for the rest of the season. Jones and the Colts were on a trajectory that some thought was Super Bowl potential, yet now with a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Rivers, can this team continue their expectations all the way through and make the Super Bowl?
The 44-year-old quarterback has never won a Super Bowl, let alone ever appeared in a Super Bowl. However, it seems like the possibility of signing with the Colts would give him a higher chance than in most seasons in his younger playing days. Starting with offensive weapons such as potential Offensive Player of the Year Johnathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs, Rivers has all the tools to be successful, even if those skills at the quarterback position are not all there at the moment. Yet, with his football IQ and understanding of schemes, the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback can make an impact more than most think, even if it’s been four years since he’s played an NFL game.
Currently, the Colts are 8-5 and out of the AFC Playoff picture. They play two NFC West opponents these next two weeks in the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. After, Indianapolis will face the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. All four teams have been some of the top teams this season. Seattle is 10-3, Jacksonville and San Francisco are 9-4, and Houston is 8-5. It’s going to take a lot of camaraderie from every Colts player, yet one quarterback to round the troops together and make this team the best version of themselves they’ve been all season long. If Rivers signs with the Colts, yes, it’s groundbreaking, yet bringing this team back into the AFC Playoff picture and securing a spot, or even the AFC South Division, would only fasten the notion that the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback is a future Hall of Fame player. Indianapolis has had an up-and-down 2025 NFL season, yet this signing could bring the Colts to a position they’ve yearned for the past couple of years.
