Philip Rivers is all class. What would it take to get a diva to return from a five-year retirement and rejoin an NFL team in the most dire moment of need? Rivers couldn't tell you. He chose not to take advantage of the Indianapolis Colts.
Instead, when Indy gave him a call a day after Week 15, and after starting quarterback Daniel Jones had been lost for the season (and beyond) with a torn Achilles tendon injury, Rivers obviously didn't ask, "How much you gonna pay me?" He jumped on an airplane and went to work.
This is all based on the fact that all the Colts owe Rivers this season is the veteran minimum for the number of games he is playing: $278,889. Is that a lot of money to the normal person? Absolutely. But the NFL simply pays its players a higher rate than the rest of us mortals.
Philip Rivers isn't stealing the Indianapolis Colts' money in his return
Rivers could have said, "You pay me $5 million, and I will come back." But he didn't because he isn't into theft, it appears. He made $244 million during his career before 2025, and while he has 10 children, he obviously doesn't need the money. He has plenty.
Now, here is the potentially positive part for the quarterback and the Indianapolis Colts. Should Rivers, who almost led Indy to a stunning victory over the Seattle Seahawks in his first game back in Week 15, push Indy to the postseason, he will earn more. Players on Wild Card teams earn $49,500. Should the Colts get to the Super Bowl, Rivers will make $171,000 for the game.
Is the team a long way from that dream? Sure, but every team is. Even the 12-3 Seahawks or 11-4 Rams are not counting on making it to the championship game; they are still working their way toward that goal.
The Colts are not completely out of the playoff picture, either. A 7-1 start certainly helps, but should Indianapolis win two of its last three games, the team could be in great shape. That starts with beating a good San Francisco 49ers in primetime in Week 16.
Philip Rivers is almost certainly done after the 2025 season. He might seem like a gimmick, but he is also well aware of what makes head coach Shane Steichen's system work. If Rivers can lead the Colts to the playoffs this season, he will have earned whatever money the team wants to give him.