The Indianapolis Colts are bringing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers onto their practice squad.

Rivers, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Monday and is a father of 10, last took to the field in 2021 during the Colts’ playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. Following that game, he announced his retirement from professional football.

Earlier this year, Rivers signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team that originally drafted him, to officially retire where his NFL journey began.

However, with the Colts facing significant challenges due to Daniel Jones’s season-ending Achilles injury and backup Riley Leonard’s knee ligament strain, the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback is stepping back into the fold to provide much-needed support.

Reports surfaced on Tuesday that Rivers, who is actually older than Colts head coach Shane Steichen, participated in a workout with the team the previous night. It remains uncertain whether he will be ready to play in Seattle should the Colts call upon him.

Rivers was the Colts’ quarterback when they last made the playoffs in 2020. They are sat at 8-5, on the outside of the AFC playoff picture and in freefall after losing four of their last five games. 

Indianapolis Colts are signing 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad

The Rivers family pictured on a family vacation, at a time when they had eight children 

Rivers has is a devout Catholic and has spoken before of the challenges he and his wife Tiffany have faced in raising such a large family. Rivers’ oldest child, 23-year-old daughter Halle, is the same age as new teammate Leonard, the quarterback he could be replacing soon. 

‘I think it’s a challenge, and I’m by no means perfect at it, nor is anybody, but I think what I would always tell other dads is to try to be present. Just try to be there,’ Rivers said in an interview with the Chargers in 2019.

‘I think from a dad standpoint, children want our time. Sometimes it might just be five minutes, and sometimes it can be a lot more, but I think they want our time and to be engaged with them and present.’

Rivers’ 10th child was born in October 2023 and is one year older than his grandson.

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s the first child or the 10th child. It’s an awesome miracle every time,’ Rivers told AL.Com at the time. ‘Everyone is home now, and everyone is good.’

Since retiring from the NFL, he had been coaching high school football with St. Michael Catholic Cardinals in Fairhope, Alabama. 

The Rivers first eight children in age order: (R-L) Halle, Caroline, Grace, Gunner, Sarah, Peter, Rebecca, and Clare

Rivers has 10 kids, the oldest of which is the same age as Colts quarterback Riley Leonard

No 1 Colts quarterback Daniel Jones saw his season ended with an Achilles tear on Sunday

The Colts organization, meanwhile, were coy over the extent of Leonard’s knee problem on Monday.

There was no signal he had hurt himself after he came in to replace Jones on Sunday against Jacksonville Jaguars, which they lost 36-19.

Coach Shane Steichen said of Leonard on Monday that he is simply ‘working through’ the injury and that he has ‘hope’ he can lead the team against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday but ‘we’ll see how it goes’.

The Colts also have journeyman quarterback Brett Rypien on the roster and whatever happens with Rivers, they could be forced to consider other free agents if Leonard struggles with his recovery.