In the NFL, having a dependable quarterback is crucial, as the Indianapolis Colts are experiencing firsthand. Their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles. In a stroke of bad luck, backup Anthony Richardson Sr. sustained a facial fracture due to an unusual accident in the equipment room. Now, third-string quarterback Riley Leonard, who stepped in last weekend, is dealing with a knee injury.

The Colts find themselves in a challenging situation and have opted to bring back a familiar face. The team has announced the signing of Philip Rivers to their practice squad.

Rivers, who retired in January 2021 after 17 NFL seasons, spent most of his career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before concluding with the Colts. At 44, he is not only a seasoned veteran but also a grandfather. Despite his age, Rivers might be the Colts’ best shot at making a playoff push.

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Earlier in the season, the Colts were on a roll with an 8-2 start, becoming a standout story. However, three consecutive losses, including critical games against AFC South playoff rivals Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, have put their postseason dreams in jeopardy. Currently, the Colts sit in the 8th spot in the AFC, losing the final playoff position to the Texans due to a tiebreaker.

Riley Leonard, a rookie picked by the Colts in the sixth round, led Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff Championship, but the NFL’s demands are on another level. Rivers, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, spent 16 years with the Chargers before his final season with Indianapolis.

In his farewell season, Rivers guided the Colts to an impressive 11-5 record and a playoff berth, passing for over 4,000 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Reports from his recent workout suggest he still has impressive skills, although he will need to work on his conditioning.

Rivers, who has ten children with his wife Tiffany, became a grandfather in late 2024. His first child, Halle, gave birth to a baby boy, just a year after Rivers’ tenth child was born. He could become just the second grandfather to play in the NFL, joining Brett Favre.

Another interesting wrinkle is Rivers’s Hall of Fame status. He’s currently a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. If the Colts simply keep him on the practice squad, he’ll maintain his eligibility. If he signs to the Colts’ active roster—even if he doesn’t take a single snap all season long—his eligibility clock would start over. Assuming he retired again after this season, that means Rivers wouldn’t be eligible for the Hall of Fame until 2031.

Then again, joining the Colts for the stretch run and leading them to a Super Bowl victory would be a pretty impressive addition to Rivers’s resume. That would certainly be worth the wait.