Unbelievable facts surrounding Phillip Rivers return to the NFL

The Indianapolis Colts looked like one of the favorites to make a run to the Super Bowl out of the AFC for the first half of the season. Since then they have lost four of five and seen starting quarterback Daniel Jones sidelined for the season.

Colts dig deep for Jones replacement

It was a devastating scene in Sunday’s Week 14 divisional showdown from Houston as Daniel Jones went down with a non contact injury and would walk off the field for the final time this season. The diagnosis: a torn achilles which not only ends his fantastic revival season, but throws a season in which the Colts looked like the best team in the league, at times, in jeopardy.

The Colts went on a manhunt to find anyone who could play the position to the ability somewhere in the neighborhood of their QB1, and the name they came up with is a former Colt who has been retired for the last four years. Phillip Rivers was signed to the Indy practice squad and it’s likely that he could be the Colts starter if not this weekend sometime in the very near future.

Rivers made his name and his legacy in San Diego as a Charger, but spent the final year of his career in Indianapolis. He played played just one season in Indy and led the Colts to a 11-5 record and took them to the playoffs.

In good company

That’s what the Colts will be hoping he will be able to do for the rest of the season after starting the year at 7-1 through their first eight games. Now the 44 year old who became a grandfather this year is on the verge of being the starter in Indy for the rest of the year.

Rivers is a grandpa, just one of two that have ever played in the NFL after Brett Favre, but that’s not where the fun facts end with this potential return from the eight time Pro Bowler. Rivers is also older than his coach Shane Stichen, 40, and his offensive coordinator Bob Cooter, 41.

The Colts starting center is Tanor Bortolini, an he was less than two years old when Rivers was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers out of North Carolina State University. The oldest of Rivers 10 children, Halle, was born in 2002 well before Bortolini was born. Now he will most likely be taking snaps from the youngster who was in diapers when Rivers was getting named to the Pro Bowl.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.