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Philip Rivers knew what he signed up for when he joined the Indianapolis Colts last week.
A semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026, Rivers’ eligibility was delayed another five years after becoming an active player again. He will now be eligible to join Canton in 2031.
Rivers, 44, played his first game in nearly five years last week and nearly pulled off a victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
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Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers and Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Miami Dolphins pose after the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Ryan Fitzpatrick was asked on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” if he had ever considered returning, but the career journeyman, who played for nine teams, joked that he didn’t want to delay his eligibility for Canton.
“I’ve thought about it, because I have one more year before my health insurance runs out,” Fitzpatrick said. “So I’ve thought about that. That was a big problem for Philip, as we’ve seen with the 10 children.
“But, for me, it came down to: Do I want to reset the clock on my Hall of Fame eligibility? And I think the answer is no, you know? I think next year we’ll see what happens there, and maybe after I’m not on the first Hall of Fame ballot, I’ll think about it.”
New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
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In fact, Rivers got five additional years of health insurance from the league, which expires five years after the player retires.
Rivers was emotional after his first game back, which ended in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks via field goal.
“Maybe it will inspire or teach you not to run or be afraid of what may or may not happen,” Rivers said after the loss about what his return could mean for those watching. “Hopefully, I think about my kids and the players I’m in charge of at school, who will say, ‘Shit, the coach wasn’t afraid.’
“There are doubts, and they are real. The guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not try, and the other is: ‘Shoot, let’s see what happens.’ I hope that in that sense it can be positive for some young men or women.”
Philip Rivers of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Rivers was 18 of 27 for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception with a 73.1 passer rating in his return. He’ll likely get the nod against the San Francisco 49ers in a home game Monday night.
