Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers appeared on the ‘Up & Adams’ show before the end of the year to discuss what was next for him. It was only in December that he unretired and came off the sideline from coaching high school football to play for the Colts. But it seems like he has had enough.

“I am [done],” Rivers said, announcing his impending retirement. “I got a son who will be a senior, and I got that St. Michael football team ready to go. We got beaten in the semifinals two years in a row.

“So, it’ll be his senior year. My second son will be a ninth grader. They’ll be on the same team together.”

Rivers, 44, was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist when he unretired for the Colts after Daniel Jones tore an Achilles. However, his short stint didn’t go as expected because Indianapolis couldn’t pick up a win with Rivers under center. In his three starts for the team, he recorded 544 passing yards, four touchdown passes, and three interceptions.

Rivers will leave the sport with 63,984 passing yards, 425 passing touchdowns, and one remarkable story to tell.

His return was never about unfinished business. It was about helping head coach Shane Steichen, a man Rivers had worked with back in the day during his San Diego Chargers stint. Steichen was 28 then and rose from a quality control coach in 2014 to QBs coach for three years. He helped Rivers get three straight Pro Bowls.

So, when Steichen needed his services for the Colts, Rivers didn’t back down.

Here’s what happened: The Colts had opened 2025 at 7–1, the best record in football at the time. Then everything started to fray. Injuries piled up. The biggest blow came when Daniel Jones tore his Achilles, and was lost for the season. With the quarterback room thin and the window still cracked open, Steichen reached out to someone who knew the system.

And though Rivers went 0-3 in his three starts, he did everything his body allowed him to do. In the end, that was not enough.

The losses kept coming, and the Colts were officially eliminated from playoff contention after the defeat to Jacksonville in Week 17. The experiment didn’t end the way Rivers would have hoped. The idea was to keep the season alive despite the injuries. Instead, it became a short stopgap in a year that slipped away.

As for what comes next, Rivers made it clear there’s no sequel coming.

“I’m back to the sideline. This was a fun three-week blur that nobody saw coming, including myself, and that will be it,” the veteran said.

Philip Rivers will be on the sideline against the Texans in Week 18

This really might be it for Philip Rivers. For real this time. Ahead of Week 18, the Indianapolis Colts decided to sit Rivers and turn the offense over to rookie sixth-round pick Riley Leonard. It will be his first NFL start.

Leonard’s resume is thin so far. Outside of one appearance earlier this month, when he came in for an injured Daniel Jones during a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14, he hasn’t seen meaningful action. In four games total, Leonard has completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 145 yards with two interceptions.

“He’s been working his tail off, he’s done it the right way ever since we got here, ever since we drafted him,” coach Steichen said about his upcoming start. “Grinding away. I’m excited for his opportunity.”

Top Stories

Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones Sharply Criticizes Matt Eberflus After Coach’s Concerning Admission

Cowboys’ George Pickens Turns Down Jerry Jones Contract Decision Already as Dak Prescott Offers Advice

Sean Payton Announces Retirement Plans as Broncos HC Demands Improvement From Bo Nix & Co. Before Playoffs

Raiders Coach Wants Travis Kelce to Play Terrible in His Last Game for Chiefs

Cam Heyward Breaks Silence on Shedeur Sanders Incident as Steelers DL Awaits NFL Punishment

The rookie shares a close relationship with Rivers. After all, the veteran trained him in Fairhope, Ala., the last two offseasons. Leonard also has a close relationship with Jones and has picked up a lot from observing the quarterback.