Colts sign grandfather QB Philip Rivers to practice squad

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There’s playing catch with the kids and then there is playing NFL football with players old enough to be your kids.

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As the Indianapolis Colts weather a storm of quarterback injuries, the team reportedly has signed Philip Rivers to its practice squad after working out the retired QB on Tuesday.

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Rivers, who turned 44 on Monday, hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2020 season with the Colts and would become the oldest player currently in the league, and sixth-oldest QB in NFL history.

In fact, Rivers is older than 12 coaches in the league – including Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks, the Colts opponent this coming weekend.

Second grandfather in NFL history

Rivers also would unofficially become the second grandfather to play in the NFL after Brett Favre, who achieved the feat in 2010 after his 21-year-old daughter gave birth to a son named Parker Brett.

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Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, have 10 children together — seven sons and three daughters — with the youngest child born 2023. Their oldest daughter, Halle, gave birth to a son in late 2024.

Rivers appears to be game for his return to NFL action, posting a biblical quote on X on Tuesday afternoon: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

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Rivers also currently is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. While signing to a practice squad doesn’t affect his eligibility, if he is added to the active roster, Rivers wouldn’t be eligible again until 2031.

Colts have injury woes at QB

The Colts were put in a tough situation at the quarterback position after being rocked by injuries on Sunday. During the first quarter of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, starter Daniel Jones – who already was dealing with a fractured fibula – suffered a torn Achilles, ending his season.

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With backup quarterback Anthony Richardson on the Injured Reserve due to an orbital bone fracture suffered during a pre-game warmup earlier this year, rookie Riley Leonard was called into action.

However, while the sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame was able to finish the game — a 36-19 loss to the rival Jags — Leonard suffered a knee injury and is questionable to play on Sunday.

The only other QB on the Colts roster is Brett Rypien, who played one game with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year before Indy added him to their practice squad.

Before this comeback attempt, Rivers played 17 NFL seasons, with all but one coming with the Chargers franchise. He racked up 63,440 passing yards in his career and threw for 421 touchdowns while making the Pro Bowl eight times.

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