Philip Rivers isn’t sure yet whether he will come back for an 18th season in the NFL, but Colts coach Frank Reich sounds like he will have him if he chooses to return.
A day after the 39-year-old Rivers and the Colts lost to the Bills in the first round of the playoffs, Reich said he would like Rivers back for a second year in Indianapolis.
“As I sit here right now, yes, I want Philip Rivers to be my quarterback next year,” Reich told reporters on Sunday, while acknowledging it was not a final decision. “That could change … We have to do what’s best for the team.”
Rivers completed 27 of 46 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 27-24 loss to the Bills, after which he said he was unsure what his future would look like.
“No, it’s not that easy,” Rivers told reporters of his decision on Saturday during an emotional press conference. “I don’t go this route with an answer often, but I think this probably sums it up. Whatever God’s will is for me and my family, if it’s here in Indy playing another year then we’ll be here. And if it’s not, I’ll be on the sidelines with a ball cap coaching the heck out of a high school football team down in south Alabama.
“Whatever God’s will is is what I want to happen, and I’ll be fine with that. Obviously, if I go on and on with that answer, it’ll be nothing but a bunch of emotion talking. At the end of the day, that’s clearly what will guide the decision.”
After 16 seasons with the Chargers, Rivers signed a one-year, $25 million contract to join the Colts last offseason. He led them to an 11-5 record during the regular season, completing 369 of 543 passes for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.