These are not your grandfather's Indianapolis Colts.
Or perhaps they are.
Colts plan to sign Chargers legend Philip Riverswho recently became a grandfather, bringing back the 44-year-old defender after five years of retirement.
The franchise intends to sign him to its practice squad following the season-ending injury to starting cornerback Daniel Jones, according to multiple reports Tuesday.
An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Rivers is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and if the Colts were to sign him to their active roster, it would reset his five-year eligibility period.
“Philip is the best competitor and the best teammate,” said retired NFL offensive lineman Rich Ornberger, who blocked him in San Diego. “He will do whatever is good for the team and that is what made him such a special player.
“If they need him, he'll be 100% ready. If there's one thing I know about Phillip, it's that he wouldn't even pick up the phone if he didn't think he could help.”
Rivers played 16 seasons with the Chargers and a final season with the Colts before retiring after the 2020 season. He retired to his home state to become head football coach at St. Michael's Catholic School in Fairhope, Alabama.
Rivers and his wife Tiffany have ten children – seven daughters and three sons. Their son Gunner is a junior at St. Michael's and a four-star college prospect at quarterback.
The Colts are off to an 8-2 start and have been among the hottest teams in the NFL, but have fallen on hard times lately, with three straight losses and Jones tearing his Achilles tendon in the first half Sunday against Jacksonville.
The team now turns to rookie Riley Leonard, who is recovering from a knee injury and without the services of former starter Anthony Richardson, who remains on injured reserve with an orbital fracture.
Rivers' return reunites him with Colts coach Shane Steichen, his former quarterbacks coach and then Chargers offensive coordinator.
“It’s really a win-win for both sides,” Orenberger said. “They will be able to speak the same language very quickly. He will be able to tell Philip about nuances that may have changed over the years.”
Orenberger said Rivers will be a boost for the Colts whether he's on the field or not.
“He brings incredible value,” the retired lineman said. “He influences the team not only because he can be one of the best players on the field and change the severity of the field, but also because of his leadership. His ability to remain incredibly calm and calm in the midst of chaos… Now he may seem chaotic when the cameras catch him on the jaw, but his ability to handle big moments and make them smaller is elite.”
“His ability to explain things concisely in important moments when you need to be concise but to the point, and to organize everything quickly, he's great at all of that. Having him in the building will raise the football IQ of this team by leaps and bounds.”
