Philip Rivers walking back into the NFL at 44 should’ve been the kind of twist the Comeback Player of the Year race lives for. His return shocked everyone, the fans fired up the nostalgia machine, and the Indianapolis Colts suddenly had a veteran lifeline.
But a quiet AP clarification from last year may be the biggest defense Rivers struggles to beat, and it has nothing to do with arm strength. While everyone loves the storyline, the criteria might not. That puts one of the league’s most iconic trash-talkers in a strange spot as Indianapolis scrambles for stability under center in early December 2025.
Why Do AP Rules Block Philip Rivers From the Comeback Race?
Since his return, Rivers is a candidate for the award alongside Christian McCaffrey and Dak Prescott. Strong company. Stronger narrative. But not strong enough to meet the Associated Press’ updated standard.
Last year, the AP tightened the definition of the award, stating that it celebrates players who return from adversity, such as injury, illness, or circumstances that forced them to miss time. That’s where Rivers’ case collapses.
He wasn’t sidelined by misfortune. He retired from 2021 to 2024 by choice. No hardship. No missed games due to adversity. Just a legendary quarterback who decided he wasn’t quite done.
“The spirit of the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award is to honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season,” the Associated Press said last year.
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That clarification didn’t stop some voters from giving Sam Darnold third place in 2024, but Rivers doesn’t fall under those “other circumstances.” Even so, all ballots from the 50 AP voters will still be accepted, leaving the door cracked, but barely.
How Did the Colts’ QB Crisis Lead to Rivers’ Return?
While the award angle heats up, the football side is even more chaotic. Rivers’ return was triggered by a brutal Week 14 loss to Jacksonville, where Colts QB Daniel Jones tore his Achilles. Rookie Riley Leonard stepped in and went 18-of-29 for 145 yards, an interception, and a rushing score before being diagnosed with a grade-one PCL injury.
With Anthony Richardson Sr. already out due to a freak eye injury, Indianapolis turned to the one quarterback who literally lives down the street from Leonard’s family in Alabama. Just months earlier, Rivers praised the rookie on the Colts’ in-house podcast The Last Word, framing Leonard as the kind of young QB who elevates a room.
Now, the two are suddenly teammates in a quarterback room trying to salvage a playoff push. Rivers may not qualify for Comeback Player of the Year, but the comeback he’s attempting? It’s already one of the wildest plot twists of the 2025 season.
Rivers played well in the Colts’ Week 15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The veteran quarterback completed 18-of-27 throws for 120 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The fact that he was sacked just once shows that Rivers can still contribute to the team.
Indianapolis will next face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 16. A defeat would diminish their playoff hopes, meaning Rivers will need to build on his showing against Seattle to keep the Colts competitive against the 49ers.
According to PFSN’s Defense Impact metric, San Francisco has the 24th-ranked defense in the league, so it will be intriguing to see whether Rivers can exploit an injured unit.