The Indianapolis Colts shocked football fans by signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who had bid farewell to the gridiron nearly five years ago. But how much is the veteran actually receiving for coming out of retirement? Let’s take a look.
How Much Are the Colts Paying Philip Rivers?
Rivers’ comeback has been truly surprising. The veteran last played for the Colts during the 2020 season, when he led the team to the playoffs before hanging up his boots in 2021 after 17 NFL seasons. The father of 10 then took a coaching job at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, where he posted a 43–15 record over five seasons.
After quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14, the Colts, who had already lost three quarterbacks to injury, were desperate for a replacement and turned to a familiar face.
Rivers was initially signed to the practice squad and was later promoted to the active roster. He signed a one-year, $1.255 million deal with the Colts ahead of Week 15, according to Spotrac. However, due to the timing of the signing, the contract is prorated, and the veteran quarterback is set to earn only $278,888.
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Previously, Rivers’ NFL health insurance coverage was scheduled to end in August 2026. However, because he is once again part of an active roster, the five-year health insurance benefit has reset. If he retires following this season, Rivers will now be covered by NFL health insurance through August 2031.
Rivers Set To Start Against the 49ers on MNF
The Colts are set to host the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 16 at the Lucas Oil Stadium, with Rivers once again leading the offense. In Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, Rivers completed 18 of his 27 passes for 120 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
Despite putting up a strong fight, the Colts suffered an 18–16 loss, further hurting their playoff chances. They currently have a 9.2% chance of making the postseason, according to PFSN’s Playoff Meter, and sit third in the AFC South with an 8–6 record following a four-game losing streak, making their path to the playoffs very challenging.
Their MNF opponent, on the other hand, is among the most dominant teams this season and has already secured a postseason berth with a 10-4 record.
With just three games remaining, Rivers will need to lead the Colts to consecutive victories, starting against the 49ers on Monday night. He led the team to the playoffs in 2020 before retiring, and it will be interesting to see if he can do it again.
