Philip Rivers: Stats, Family & Colts Backup Plan

When most NFL fans hear the name Philip Rivers, they think of the fiery trash talker in a No. 17 jersey, slinging side-arm lasers for the Chargers and later the Indianapolis Colts. In 2025, though, the questions around him sound a bit different: How many kids does Philip Rivers have? Is Philip Rivers a grandfather? How old is Philip Rivers now—and why is his name back in the Colts quarterback room?

Who is Philip Rivers?

Philip Rivers (often misspelled as “Phillip Rivers”) is a former longtime NFL starting quarterback best known for his 16 seasons with the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers and one season with the Indianapolis Colts. He was born on December 8, 1981, which makes him 44 years old as of December 2025.

Rivers entered the league in 2004, became the Chargers’ full-time starter in 2006, and never really looked back. He developed a reputation for:

• A unique, almost side-arm throwing motion.
• Elite durability—he famously started 240 consecutive regular-season games.
• Non-stop, clean trash talk (he was known for not swearing even when fired up).
• High-volume passing in aggressive downfield offenses.

After parting ways with the Chargers following the 2019 season, Rivers signed a one-year deal with the Colts and led them to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth in 2020, then announced his retirement in January 2021.

Career stats and Hall of Fame legacy

However you spell his name—Philip Rivers, Phillip Rivers or even the occasional typo “philip rovers”—his résumé is clear. Based on official league records and major statistical databases, Rivers ranks among the most productive quarterbacks in NFL history:

• Career passing yards: 63,440 (7th all-time).
• Career passing touchdowns: 421 (6th all-time).
• Eight-time Pro Bowler across 17 NFL seasons.
• Led teams to the playoffs multiple times with both the Chargers and Colts.

In his final full season in 2020 as the Colts QB, Rivers completed about 68% of his passes, threw for just over 4,000 yards with a 24–11 TD–INT ratio, and helped Indianapolis to that 11–5 record before a close wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Because of that career production, Rivers is already a modern-era semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Importantly, league and Hall of Fame rules state that his recent move to the Colts practice squad does not reset his five-year retirement clock as long as he stays off the active roster. If he were activated to the 53-man roster, his eligibility would be pushed back five more years.

The Colts chapter: From 2020 playoff run to 2025 comeback

2020: Rivers as the steady veteran in Indianapolis

The original Philip Rivers Colts story happened in 2020. After 16 years as the Chargers QB, he joined the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year deal. In that season:

• He started all 16 games.
• The team finished 11-5 and earned a wild-card berth.
• They narrowly lost to the Bills in the postseason.

That 2020 team still represents the Colts’ most efficient passing offense since, averaging over 250 passing yards per game with Rivers under center.

2025: A shocking return to the Colts practice squad

Fast-forward to December 2025. The Colts are contending but reeling from injuries at quarterback. Starter Daniel Jones tore his Achilles, and backup Riley Leonard is week-to-week with a knee injury. With the team still in the playoff hunt, the Colts turned to a familiar name: Philip Rivers.

According to multiple reports and team statements, Rivers worked out for the Colts on the evening of December 8, 2025—his 44th birthday—and then signed with the Colts practice squad on December 9, 2025. He instantly became the oldest player in the league and one of the very few quarterbacks ever to return at that age.

From a scheme standpoint, the move makes sense. Colts head coach Shane Steichen spent years with Rivers in the Chargers organization, working as his quarterbacks coach and then interim offensive coordinator. Those shared years mean Rivers already understands many of the core concepts and language in Steichen’s current offense.

For now, reports consistently frame Rivers as a practice-squad emergency option who could back up Riley Leonard if Leonard is healthy enough to play. Whether Rivers ever takes a snap in a regular-season game again will depend on injuries, practice performance and the Colts’ playoff positioning.

Age, kids and grandkids: Philip Rivers off the field

How old is Philip Rivers?

As of December 2025, Philip Rivers’ age is 44. He was born on December 8, 1981. That makes him older than most current NFL coaches and nearly every player on the Colts roster.

How many kids does Philip Rivers have?

One of the most frequent questions fans ask is: “How many kids does Philip Rivers have?”

Public reporting and Rivers’ own interviews confirm that Philip Rivers has 10 children with his wife, Tiffany. That is why search phrases like “philip rivers kids” and “phillip rivers kids” trend every time his name resurfaces in NFL news.

Is Philip Rivers a grandfather?

Yes. Rivers is not only a father of ten; Philip Rivers is a grandfather as well. Recent profiles note that one of his older daughters has a child, which means the veteran quarterback now has at least one grandchild.

That makes questions like “is Philip Rivers a grandfather?” and “philip rivers grandkids” fact-based, not rumor. If Rivers takes a snap for the Colts in 2025, he would be one of the very rare grandfathers ever to play in an NFL game.

Rivers and Brady: Age, retirement and context

Another common search is some version of “how old was Tom Brady when he retired?” Fans use Brady’s career as a benchmark to understand whether a 44-year-old quarterback like Rivers is even a realistic option.

Tom Brady officially retired “for good” on February 1, 2023, at age 45, after 23 NFL seasons. That means:

• Brady’s final season came at age 45.
• Rivers’ attempted comeback at age 44 is unusual but not unprecedented.
• If Rivers starts a game, he would join a small group of QBs to start at 44+, including Brady, Vinny Testaverde, Steve DeBerg and Warren Moon.

So while a 44-year-old Colts QB sounds wild, history shows it is physically possible—especially for a player whose game has always relied on quick decision-making and accuracy more than scrambling ability.

What his return means for the Colts

The 2025 Indianapolis Colts were 8–5 and clinging to playoff hopes when injuries hit Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard. With rookie Anthony Richardson Sr. already on injured reserve, the depth chart was dangerously thin.

Signing Philip Rivers to the practice squad gives the team:

• A veteran with deep understanding of Shane Steichen’s offensive concepts from their Chargers days.
• A proven down-the-stretch performer—Rivers has led multiple teams on playoff pushes late in seasons.
• A stabilizing presence in the quarterback room for younger players like Leonard and Richardson.

It is important to stress what the current reporting actually says: Rivers is on the practice squad, and his role is as an emergency option. There is no guarantee he will start a game. Whether he plays at Seattle, or in any other matchup, depends on Leonard’s health and Rivers’ readiness after several years away from NFL game speed.

In other words, the signing is real and confirmed; any talk beyond that—like exact snap counts or guaranteed starting roles—would be speculation, so this article does not make those claims.

Quick FAQ about Philip Rivers

When did Philip Rivers retire?

Rivers first announced his retirement after the 2020 season with the Colts. He then spent the next several years coaching high school football in Alabama before agreeing in December 2025 to join the Colts’ practice squad, effectively coming out of retirement.

Is Philip Rivers on the Colts active roster?

As of early December 2025, Rivers is signed to the Colts practice squad. That makes him eligible for elevation to the active roster, but a promotion has not been guaranteed and would be announced separately by the team.

What teams did Philip Rivers play for?

Rivers played for the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers from 2004 through 2019 and the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. Those are his only two NFL franchises, although he is now back with the Colts as a practice-squad quarterback.

Is Philip Rivers a Hall of Famer?

Rivers is currently a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Whether he is ultimately elected is up to the Hall’s voters, but his career passing stats clearly place him in the “serious candidate” tier.