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Philip Rivers made an incredible return to the NFL this season, coming off the sidelines as a high school football coach to don the pads of the Indianapolis Colts in their time of need.
Rivers’ commitment to his team and his expression of humility are something that has resonated with Catholics and Christians throughout the United States.
Shawn Carney, founder of the Catholic faith organization 40 Days for Life, shed some light on why this was in an interview with Pak Gazette Digital following the Colts’ close loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) watches the second quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Image Images)
“Philip Rivers has always been pretty open about his faith, not that he goes around and brags about it, but his return to the NFL, I think at a time when Americans really need good news, is very inspiring, not just for us Catholics but for all Christians,” Carney said. “I think it’s great to see someone come out of retirement, live a great life, live a life like most people want to live, which is to be a good father and a good husband. And that, in general, is overlooked too often.”
Carney said he believed the average Catholic or Christian can take away important things from Rivers’ return trip.
“I think the average Catholic or Christian in America looks at Philip Rivers and says, ‘The way I live my life is the way he tries to live his. I want to be a good father. I want to be a good mother. I want to be a good husband, I want to be a good wife.’ And there’s nothing wrong with that,” Carney said. “It’s not something we should apologize for.
“In fact, that’s what most Americans strive to be, and he represents that, except he has such a big profile and 10 or 11 kids. I think at this point, it’s just beautiful to see. It’s beautiful to see when we have celebrities who have the same priorities as people who live their lives and work hard every day to provide for their families.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) leaves the field Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, after losing a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Rivers, 44, has 397 passing yards, three touchdown passes and two interceptions in the two games he has played. However, the Colts have not won since Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury.
Carney told Pak Gazette Digital that the results of the game don’t necessarily have to be there to have an impact on those watching in the stands or at home.
“Everyone loves a good story and this is a great feel-good story at the end of 2025. I can’t imagine anyone is rooting for Philip Rivers. Hopefully there won’t be anyone on the left rooting for him because he’s a proud father of a lot of kids, but everyone is rooting for him. He’s 44, he came out, he was needed, he’s playing very well,” he said. “And win or lose, no one cares.
“It’s a great, great story. It’s inspiring. He’s not making a lot of money. He doesn’t really need the money. He’s doing it because he was asked and he’s making it about the team, not about himself. He’s deflecting all the praise and it’s just a good story. He’s a great guy and that stands out and, again, I think it reflects how most Americans choose to live their lives. They don’t get wrapped up in so many things. Different things and so many distractions.”
Not all hope is lost for the Colts, but their chances of making the playoffs are diminishing.
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Indianapolis needs to win its next two games to even have a legitimate chance. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans are next on their schedule.
