Five months ago, Philip Rivers signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the LA Chargers. Five years ago, Rivers suited up for what appeared to be the last time with the Indianapolis Colts. And five years from now, Rivers will be in line to earn the Hall of Fame induction he postponed to make this improbable return.
Indianapolis called on Rivers to save the team's season after Daniel Jones went down with a torn ACL in Week 14. And while the Colts ended up losing both of Rivers' return starts to the NFL, it wasn't because of bad quarterback play. Rivers held his own in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, and looked like he was back in San Diego in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Colts haven't been officially eliminated from the playoffs, but the odds are as slim as they get. Regardless of what happens next, Rivers has done something that literally seemed impossible, and in the process, proved something that Chargers fans have known all along.
Philip Rivers has proven he's a bonafide, Hall of Fame quarterback
Rivers never got the credit he deserved. Part of it was because of the quarterbacks he came up with. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning dominated the conversation. Draftmates Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning both won multiple Super Bowls. Brett Favre occupied the space at the start of Rivers' career, Aaron Rodgers occupied it at the tail end.
It also didn't help that the Chargers had little team success in the 2010s. After a brilliant run in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the Chargers came crashing back down to earth. Rivers made the playoffs just two times in his last 10 seasons with the Chargers, and it wasn't because of bad quarterback play.
These extracurricular storylines robbed Rivers of the recognition he deserved. Now, at 44 years old being weeks away from his first Hall of Fame ballot, Rivers is the storyline. He's doing something unfathomable. Rivers didn't just return to action, he is doing something even the best quarterbacks in the sport don't do.
He may not have the arm strength he once had and his mobility is as bad as it gets at 44. But there genuinely isn't an active quarterback alive today that can command the line of scrimmage like Rivers. Even after four years away, his pre-snap reads and adjustments are as good as it gets.
Chargers fans always knew this, but Rivers never got the credit he deserved. And after Monday's loss, some are even calling Rivers the greatest of all time at the line of scrimmage. A student of the game. Someone who loves football, and has mastered the Xs and Os behind it.
These are all Hall of Fame traits. And while he probably would have gotten in eventually without a Super Bowl, there would have been controversy if he got in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Quite frankly, that controversy no longer exists.
Chargers can now help Philip Rivers in a serious way
The only way the Colts can make the playoffs is by winning out, coupled with the Houston Texans losing out. Thankfully for the Colts, they play the Texans in Week 18 to try and force that issue. Just that isn't enough, though. The Colts have to hope they end up with the tiebreaker in strength of victory. That's all variable depending what happens the final two weeks of the season.
But the Colts can't even get to that point if the Texans win in Week 17 against the Chargers. Ironically enough, the Chargers play a critical role in getting Rivers to the playoffs, and unlike many of his years with the Bolts, the hope is that it happens for Rivers this time.
Not only could the Chargers get the Colts in the playoffs, but they could end up playing Indianapolis. The Colts would have to be the No. 7 seed to make the playoffs, and the Chargers could be the No. 2 seed if Indy wins out and the Bolts win out. If that happens, Justin Herbert and Philip Rivers could square off in a matchup nobody thought was ever possible.
For most of his career, the Chargers held Rivers back and that is why it took this miraculous return for many NFL fans to finally see the light of day with his Hall of Fame viability. It'd be nice for the Chargers to pay Rivers back all these years later by helping the all-time great make the Cinderalla of all Cinderalla playoff runs.