Last Updated: Dec. 11, 2025 at 12:53 p.m. ET
First Published: Dec. 10, 2025 at 3:43 p.m. ET
Philip Rivers is returning to the National Football League at age 44 — proving that even the most accomplished among us sometimes rethink retirement.
Rivers, who last played for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts five seasons ago, is the latest high-profile NFL quarterback to come out of retirement. He follows the footsteps of Tom Brady — who famously retired in February 2022 before coming back, albeit just 40 days later, before finally retiring for good in 2023. Now Rivers — who became a grandfather during his five years off the field — immediately becomes the NFL’s oldest player.
