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Philip Rivers signing: Monday Night Football broadcast reveals new wrinkle on Colts bringing in QB

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones12/23/25brianjones_93

There was one important thing that led to the Indianapolis Colts signing NFL legend Philip Rivers for the rest of the season. During the Monday Night Football broadcast, sideline reporter Laura Rutledge shared the story of how the Colts made the final decision on Rivers.

“This was pretty cool. Michael Pittman Jr. told me that before [Shane] Steichen made any decision official, he had a leadership meeting with the Committee of Leadership for this group,” Rutledge said. “He said Shane told them about Phil coming back, asked if anyone had anything to say, or if anyone was against it. And then they took a vote, and guess what? Unanimous decision in favor of Philip Rivers returning to this team.”

Before joining the Colts this month, Philip Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020. At that time, he was with the Colts and led the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. The Colts brought him back because of the injuries at the quarterback position.

Had Rivers not signed with the Colts and stayed retired, he would have likely been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. But the former NC State star is not worried about when he’ll make it to Canton.

Philip Rivers can wait on the Hall of Fame

“It’s a real honor to be mentioned with those other 25 guys, certainly,” Rivers told reporters earlier this month, per the Colts’ official website. “But that’s just not — I’m not holding my breath on that, and I hadn’t been counting down the years. And with all respect to the Hall, and if one day I could be a part of that group, it would be special, no question about it. But the extension of that time, if it comes to be, was not a factor in my thinking.”

Rivers registered 63,440 passing yards and 421 passing touchdowns from 2004 to 2020. He has reached the Pro Bowl eight times and was named the Comeback Player of the Year in 2013. Rivers was a member of the San Diego Chargers from 2004 to 2019 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards (59,271) and passing touchdowns (397).