Despite being 44 years old and having not played in the NFL for almost half a decade, Philip Rivers is ending his retirement in an effort to guide the Indianapolis Colts to the postseason.
This peculiar scenario arose due to the Colts losing Daniel Jones to a ruptured Achilles tendon, compounded by further injuries to substitute quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson. Such an event is largely unprecedented in the National Football League. Should Rivers, now a grandfather, deliver even a single strong performance, it would secure his place in NFL history.
Unsurprisingly, Tom Brady, aged 48, believes he too could achieve such a feat. Only a singular obstacle prevents him.
The celebrated former New England Patriots player discussed his enduring quarterback colleague’s comeback on Fox Sports’ “The Herd” program on Thursday. Questioned about his ability to step back onto the field with a basic understanding of the offensive playbook and lead scoring drives in an NFL contest this weekend, Brady affirmed his capability, all while humorously referencing his own past retirement reversal:
“Indeed, I absolutely could. Yet, let’s consider: who announces their retirement, then reverses it, only to eventually retire once more? Who engages in such behavior? It’s quite absurd for Philip to be doing that. Still, good for him; I am pleased he is undertaking it.
“For me, I believe the response would be affirmative. My current status as a minority shareholder in the Raiders prohibits me from doing so, preventing me from rescinding my retirement. Nonetheless, I’m genuinely enthusiastic to witness Philip compete, as I simply find it admirable.”
Brady’s assertion holds true: his sole path to emulating Rivers’ comeback would necessitate divesting his ownership interest in the Raiders. The National Football League unequivocally prohibits its active participants from possessing equity in any franchise, and several teams are already quite uneasy regarding Brady’s role as a Fox broadcaster concurrent with his team ownership.
Thus, it seems unlikely we will ever witness whether Brady can validate his own claims.
Naturally, Tom Brady believes he remains capable of competing in the NFL. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Patrick Smith via Getty Images)
Brady, whose NFL career extended until he reached 45 years of age, expressed general optimism about Rivers’ prospects for success should he begin the game for the Colts:
“This demonstrates his profound passion for football and what he remains capable of accomplishing. For a quarterback, this sport is predominantly a mental exercise. At Michigan, we had an adage: the cerebral aspect is to the physical as four is to one for a quarterback. That intellectual capacity never truly diminishes; it remains paramount.
“Does one retain the bodily aptitude to perform, absorb impacts, execute passes, handle snaps, and create momentary space within the pocket? If Philip has been honing these specific skills, then we will all witness it showcased in its entirety in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.”
The decision remains pending on whether Rivers or the returning Leonard will assume the starting role for the Colts when they face the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. Given that Rivers is officially a member of the practice squad, Indianapolis would be required to promote him to the active roster prior to the game if he is to participate.
