Colts QB Phillip Rivers earns vote for NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Rivers came out of retirement to provide stability at QB for the Colts late in the season.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 9:47pm

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Phillip Rivers received a vote for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award after coming out of retirement to play three games for the Colts late in the season. While the award ultimately went to San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey, Rivers' return to the field was recognized by voters.

Why it matters

Rivers' comeback was seen as a surprising move, as he had been retired for five seasons. His ability to step in and provide stability at quarterback for the Colts, who were dealing with an injury to starter Daniel Jones, was an impressive feat and demonstrated Rivers' continued competitiveness and skill.

The details

In his three games with the Colts, Rivers completed 63% of his passes for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. While the Colts did not win any of those games, Rivers helped the offense sustain drives and keep the team in contention.

  • Rivers came out of retirement in late 2026 to join the Colts.
  • Rivers played three games for the Colts in the final weeks of the 2026 NFL season.

The players

Phillip Rivers

A veteran NFL quarterback who came out of retirement to play three games for the Indianapolis Colts late in the 2026 season.

Christian McCaffrey

The San Francisco 49ers running back who won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award in 2026.

Daniel Jones

The Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback who suffered a season-ending injury, leading the team to call on Phillip Rivers to fill in.

Shane Steichen

The Indianapolis Colts' offensive coordinator, who had previously worked with Phillip Rivers when they were both with the Los Angeles Chargers.

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What’s next

The Colts will look to build on Rivers' late-season contributions and continue to develop their offense for the 2027 NFL season.

The takeaway

Phillip Rivers' comeback with the Colts late in the 2026 season was an impressive feat, demonstrating his continued competitiveness and skill even after a five-year retirement. While the Colts did not win any of the games Rivers played in, his ability to step in and provide stability at quarterback was recognized by voters, earning him a vote for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.