Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

'He's genius': Why timing of Colts QB Philip Rivers' return to NFL was shrewd

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 14, 2025 2:09 PM ET

Philip Rivers' love of the game may not be the only reason the Indianapolis Colts quarterback suddenly came out of retirement.

Before Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, the Colts signed Rivers, 44, to their practice squad and then promoted him to their active roster. Of course, Indianapolis starting QB Daniel Jones tore his Achilles in a 36-19 Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Before Sunday, the eight-time Pro Bowler last played on Jan. 9, 2021, when the Colts lost 27-24 in the AFC wild-card round of the playoffs. The timing of the Rivers return is notable. Former NFL backup QBs Chase Daniel and Kurt Benkert explained that he's now poised to reap a significant benefit for himself and his family.

Chase Daniel, Kurt Benkert explain why Philip Rivers coming out of retirement was shrewd

On X, Benkert wrote, "No coincidence that Rivers goes back to the NFL right before his health insurance clock runs out."

No coincidence that Philip Rivers goes back to the NFL right before his health insurance clock runs out.

When you have a 20 person deep roster at home you gotta do what you gotta do before the 5 year clock is up post playing.

Now the clock resets.

200 IQ pic.twitter.com/PHhXNy9Hqu
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) December 13, 2025

Daniel then further explained that NFL players receive five paid years of health insurance after they retire. But now that Rivers is coming out of retirement, his coverage won't end. Daniel calls that a "genius" move.

Philip Rivers is actually genius though… https://t.co/1L0vW2LX70 pic.twitter.com/35WwVi0XaU
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) December 14, 2025

"[Rivers] is starting for the Colts versus a really good Seattle Seahawks team," Daniel said Saturday on X. "And here's what's crazy about it is, Philip Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, have 10 kids. There are 12 people in their family. And he works as a high school coach. Now he's obviously starting, but what's crazy about this is health insurance [in the NFL] expires after five years. The last year that Philip Rivers played was 2020 in COVID. His five years after you play of free health insurance is running out.

"So, what does he do? He signed. He went to sign back. He's signed to the active roster... He's genius. I thought Kurt said this so perfectly. Can you believe that? 100 IQ."

Since his first retirement, Rivers has been coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala. It's unclear whether that's a full-time position.

While Rivers clearly loves football, let's not pretend that the free health insurance didn't incentivize him to play again. He has many mouths to feed in his big family, and one fewer expense makes life a little easier.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: