Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about one of the biggest stories of the NFL season on Friday. The unretirement of Philip Rivers took the league by storm after he returned to the field five years later to help the Colts with injuries to Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard.
The Chargers legend retired with the franchise this past summer, surely thinking that the opportunity to play wouldn't come knocking again.
After a valiant effort last week vs. Seattle, Rivers will take the field on primetime when his Colts face the 49ers on Monday Night Football. Indianapolis' playoff hopes hang in the balance, possibly affecting the Chargers' clinching a spot as well. If the Chargers beat the Cowboys on Sunday, a loss by Rivers' Colts would clinch them a spot in the NFL Playoffs.
Harbaugh had this to say about Rivers' unretirement:
"I think it's great," Harbaugh started. "Jealous I didn't do that. He's good enough to do that, how about that? That's pretty amazing. Just awesome."
Jim Harbaugh admits he's "jealous" of Philip Rivers
Earlier in the offseason, Harbaugh was talking about Tony Jefferson's unretirement when he mentioned that he almost did it himself. When Harbaugh was coaching at University of San Diego, he said that he had a plan to play Arena League football in Los Angeles during the spring time.
The plan didn't work out as Harbaugh had to commit to coaching in a full-time capacity. But the Rivers story is not the first time that he's mentioned unretiring.
Harbaugh has also mentioned coaching football until it's essentially a physical impossibility. That was advice him and his brother got from their father Jack Harbaugh.
Rivers set his Hall of Fame eligibility back to 2031 by returning to the NFL with the Colts and playing in a game. At some point, Rivers will likely be inducted into the Chargers' team Hall of Fame just like Antonio Gates was back in 2023. But in an unprecedented turn of events, that will also have to wait until No. 17 is actually done in the NFL.
Chargers fans were already invested in the return of Rivers. But now that his performance can directly impact their playoff future on Monday night, there's even more reason to be invested. Imagine how insane people would think Philip Rivers impacting the 2025 AFC Playoff Race would be as a concept a few months ago. Honestly, imagine saying that even a few weeks ago.