Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Rivers has withdrawn his name from consideration and has informed the Bills so. Rivers was interviewed last week following the firing of Sean McDermott.

However, Rivers is not keen on joining the team. While the reasons haven’t been disclosed as of yet, this means Rivers won’t become the third person to land an NFL head coaching job without any pro or NCAA coaching experience. Jeff Saturday was the most recent case, as he took the interim coach job on the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. The first one was Norm Van Brocklin in 1961 when he coached the Minnesota Vikings.

The Bills have other candidates

Davis Webb is a name that entices the Bills but they have competition for it. Hence, the Denver Broncos offensive pass coordinator is not a sure bet. There’s also the possibility of promoting an in-house talent like offensive coordinator Joe Brady, or bring back a known face like Brian Daboll.

What’s certain is that most of the people getting interviewed by the Bills are offensive-minded. This would be a 180-degree change from Sean McDermott, who was an old-school, defensive-minded coach. Having Josh Allen as the quarterback might be the reason why the front office is looking for someone who works closely with the offense.

The Bills already lost a couple of names

Mike McDaniel rejected the Bills proposition to sign as the Chargers OC instead. Rivers decided to go back to coaching his son’s high-school team than to keep in the mix for this job. One would assume that coaching Josh Allen would be enough to tempt coaches.

However, after firing McDermott, general manager Brandon Beane and owner Terry Pegula held a press conference. Let’s just say they didn’t do any favors for the team, as the dysfunctionality on the front office was made very obvious. The Bills also made a final decision on Bill Belichick, but this means the candidates are not as numerous and the hire must be the right one, so alarms are on their way to Buffalo.

At the moment, Rivers’ sideline experience comes from his role as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School. In fact, his players went viral celebrating what their coach was accomplishing as a quarterback in Indianapolis during the 2025 season.

However, the NFL would be a completely different story. After Sean McDermott’s controversial departure, the expectation would be to win the Super Bowl alongside Josh Allen, which is why, once the news became public, the interview was met with a lot of skepticism.

Philip Rivers as Bills next head coach?

After a crazy 2025 NFL season, Philip Rivers signing with the Buffalo Bills as the new head coach would be the cherry on top. Although it doesn’t seem likely that he will land the job, what’s interesting is why the Bills made this move knowing it would have a huge media impact.

Bills head coach tracker for 2026 season

In addition to Philip Rivers, the Bills have interviewed Lou Anarumo, Brian Daboll, and Joe Brady for their head coach job. They are also expected to speak with other very interesting names such as Mike McDaniel and Anthony Lynn.

Just days ago, Philip Rivers revealed that he plans to retire from football once the 2025 NFL season ends. However, he may remain connected to the league in a different role.

According to Ian Rapoport, several teams have inquired about Philip Rivers for potential head coaching positions. The report suggests he could have one or more interviews once the season concludes.

Not the first time teams want Philip Rivers as head coach

Philip Rivers returned to the NFL after a five-year retirement, agreeing to join the Colts following Daniel Jones’ Achilles injury. The 44-year-old did not hesitate to step back onto the field when the team needed him.

During his initial retirement, multiple teams reached out to Rivers to gauge his interest in becoming a head coach. At the time, he declined those opportunities in order to stay close to his family.

Now, a new opportunity appears to have emerged. Rivers is widely regarded as a brilliant football mind with an exceptional ability to read defenses, which is why many teams view him as a strong candidate to lead a franchise—especially after getting a fresh look at how the modern NFL operates.

Rapoport did not specify which teams have shown interest. However, franchises such as the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Cleveland Browns are expected to undergo potential rebuilds with new head coaches, making them possible suitors for the future Hall of Famer.

Are the Raiders a good fit for Philip Rivers as head coach?

In a surprising development, recent reports indicate the Raiders could part ways with Pete Carroll after the 2025 NFL season. With a potential opening at head coach, Philip Rivers has emerged as an intriguing option.

Las Vegas is expected to target a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. With Rivers as head coach and Tom Brady as a co-owner, the Raiders could form a compelling duo to help identify and develop the franchise’s next signal-caller for the future.

If the Colts lose to the Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium, their record would drop to 8–8, yet their overall situation would remain unchanged. This means that a string of unfavorable results has kept Shane Steichen from guiding his team to the playoffs.

What was once pure optimism in Indianapolis, fueled by the outstanding play of then-starting QB Daniel Jones, gradually gave way to harsh reality by season’s end, even after Philip Rivers took over and couldn’t turn the tide.

Injuries: Colts’ main setback

The Indianapolis Colts’ season has been significantly derailed by a persistent quarterback crisis, starting with Anthony Richardson’s orbital bone fracture in Week 6 and followed by Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles tear in Week 13.

To stabilize the offense, the team turned to veteran Philip Rivers, but the move has yet to yield the expected results; over two starts, Rivers has recorded 397 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, posting a subpar 50.9 QBR. These struggles under center have prevented the Colts from maintaining offensive consistency, contributing heavily to their late-season decline.

The final stretch for Indianapolis

With an 8-7 record and already eliminated from playoff contention, the Indianapolis Colts are shifting their focus to the future as they close out the season. They will first host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium before finishing the year against the Texans at NRG Stadium.

Currently sitting third in the AFC South, the team is now eyeing the 2026 NFL Draft, where securing a high pick could allow them to address its quarterback instability by selecting a top prospect.

The return of No. 17 to the field was unexpected, and his joy at putting on the uniform again is immeasurable. However, Rivers himself admitted he is not fully satisfied, as he wants to win and lead his team to the postseason.

“I’m torn on how to express it, because it’s been a blast,” Rivers said, via Stephen Holder of ESPN.com. “It’s been a blast to prepare and to go stinking get ready and go out there and warm up and do all that with these guys again. But, again, the name of the game is not go have a good time. It’s help find a way to lead your team to a win. And we’ve come up short.”

The AFC South remains undecided, with the Jaguars currently leading the division. The Colts, sitting in third place, are hoping for a miracle with two games remaining to secure a Wild Card spot.

Philip Rivers’ stats with the Colts

In his time leading the Indianapolis Colts, Philip Rivers delivered a competitive performance, throwing for 397 yards and 3 touchdowns. While he recorded 2 interceptions, his veteran leadership and a 50.9 QBR kept the offense moving effectively during his stint with the franchise.

Colts’ playoff chances hanging by a thread

The loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football may have been the final blow to the Colts’ playoff hopes. However, miracles do happen in this sport, and many are still holding out hope for a Wild Card spot.

According to the official NFL website, ahead of Week 17, Shane Steichen’s team has just a 3% chance of making the playoffs. The next two games will determine its fate: first, the Colts will host the Jaguars at home, and finally, they will travel to NRG Stadium to face the Texans.

Richardson dealt with an orbital fracture. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson is still dealing with some vision limitations, but at least he has been able to return to football activities.

As for now, all signs point to Philip Rivers to still be the starting quarterback for the Colts. Rivers had a frisky appearance against the Seahawks last week, almost winning a game in what would’ve been the upset of the season.

The differences between QBs are inmense

Rivers and Richardson couldn’t be further apart in terms of playing styles. Rivers is 44 years old, has no mobility and was retired two weeks ago. However, he excels at reading defenses, moving the chains and getting the ball where it needs to be most of the time.

Richardson is 23 years old, not that accurate or able to read defenses properly. However, he is very athletic, has a cannon for an arm, and is an absolute machine running the football as well. Hence, the team could change a lot depending on who is lined up under center.

The Colts should really test Richardson

If Richardson overcomes his vision problems, the Colts should really let him finish the season. While Rivers’ comeback is very romantic, nostalgic, and courageous, the future is without him, and the Richardson experiment might still be something interesting.

Richardson is young, very raw, but has a career in front of him. If he is able to go, he has to get the reps in the last few weeks of the season. Literally, his Colts career depends on how he fares.

When the Colts announced Rivers’ return, many fans initially thought it was a joke. However, the veteran quarterback was genuinely interested in playing again—not only because of his love for football, but also due to a financial and personal incentive tied to the move.

Clearly, Rivers did not sign with Indianapolis purely for sentimental reasons. His return not only adds to his career earnings but also provides an important benefit that extends beyond the football field.

Philip Rivers’ contract details with the Indianapolis Colts

According to Bleacher Report, Rivers will earn a prorated veteran minimum of $278,889 for four regular-season games. Considering his estimated career earnings of $244,223,210, the financial payout alone suggests money was not the primary motivation behind his return.

Every NFL player receives league-provided health insurance, which expires five years after retirement. Rivers originally hung up his cleats in 2020, meaning that coverage had recently lapsed. By returning to the league, he has effectively reinstated his health insurance benefits.

Rivers’ comeback is expected to be short-lived, with another retirement likely after the 2025 NFL season. Should that happen, his health insurance coverage would reset for another five years. If the trend were to continue, it even raises the tongue-in-cheek question of whether he might return again in 2030 just to restart the clock.

Can the Colts make the 2026 playoffs?

After a strong start to the 2025 NFL season, the Colts have struggled in the second half and currently find themselves outside of playoff contention. Indianapolis no longer controls its own destiny.

The Jacksonville Jaguars lead the AFC South with a 10–4 record. The Colts’ best path to the postseason is through a Wild Card berth, but that would require the Houston Texans to stumble down the stretch in order for Indianapolis to leapfrog them into a playoff spot.

There are some games that present tough, shocking tests, but great teams are capable of winning them. Macdonald said, “Great football teams find a way to win games of all shapes and sizes in the NFL. Freakin’ all three phases… All three phases, awesome job. The resiliency, the relentlessness, all the way to the last second, that’s some high-powered stuff. That’s what great teams do.”

The Seahawks had a tough time but won 18-16. Still, it was a gritty win. After all, the Seahawks were 2/13 on third downs despite winning the yardage battle. Seattle was able to provide just enough production to win the game.

Colts will be a tough test for the rest of the NFL

Nobody expected Philip Rivers to be out there creating problems for Super Bowl candidates. Still, there he was. Rivers completed 18/27 passes for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the dying seconds of the game. Rivers, had two great opening drives that unfortunately didn’t end as touchdowns, but he still showed poise and calm in the pocket, despite being really slow.

The Seahawks, which are one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL had some issues trying to stop a 44-year-old. Credit has to be given to Shane Steichen and how he drew the gameplan. If that’s how the Colts will look like, they won’t be an easy team to beat by any means.

The Seahawks got a vital win

The Seahawks couldn’t afford to lose this game. The Rams are 11-3 and clinched a playoff spot and if the Seahawks lost, they would’ve pretty much derailed any chance to win the division. Next week, the Seahawks and Rams will play once again and Seattle could not only win and tie the series, but get a better record than the Rams as well.

Macdonald said it best, “Great football teams find a way to win games.” The Seahawks proved they are a great football team indeed. The first seed of the NFC is still open and what happened in Week 15 could have plenty to do to shape up this team for the postseason.

Many may have believed the veteran was brought in simply to fill a limited role and help his teammates close out the season in the most respectable way possible. However, after a narrow defeat, Rivers’ competitive fire was on full display, delivering a clear postgame message to his teammates.

“If I can stay healthy, I feel good, and it is going to get better as we go,” he said to the press. “But the catch is that we’ve got to win. It doesn’t really matter if it’s getting better as we go if we don’t win because it’s going to be over in three weeks. So that’s the catch there. But it’s going to continue to get better. I mean, this is obviously the first one. We’re talking about three days of practice.”

Philip Rivers’ numbers in his NFL return

Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers recently stepped back onto the field for the Indianapolis Colts, delivering a respectable but measured performance in his latest return game. The 44-year-old completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 passing yards.

His stat line included one touchdown pass and one interception, with the interception coming on a last-second, desperation heave. Despite the low yardage total, Rivers’ efficiency was decent, evidenced by a 66.7% completion rate, culminating in a 73.1 passer rating for the contest as the Colts narrowly fell short in a tough, low-scoring matchup.

Colts still have playoff hopes

After falling in Week 15, the Colts dropped to an 8–6 record, but they are still keeping their postseason hopes alive. According to the NFL’s official website, their current chances of reaching the playoffs stand at 17% heading into Week 16.

In the AFC South, the Jaguars sit atop the division with a 10–4 record, followed by the resurgent Texans, who have won five straight to reach 9–5. In third place are the Colts, still fighting to stay in the playoff race.

Indianapolis’ final stretch

The Colts have three games remaining on their schedule and will need to win all of them to secure a Wild Card spot. The first comes at Lucas Oil Stadium against the 49ers. That will be followed by two pivotal divisional matchups: a home game against the Jaguars, before closing out the season at NRG Stadium against the Texans.

Steichen pointed to the context surrounding Rivers’ return. “For him to go out there and do what he did after five years off, to have a chance to win it and get a game-winning field goal… with 40 seconds left in a hostile environment against a top defense,” Steichen explained, framing the moment as a meaningful test rather than a simple stat line.

Rivers finished the night 18-of-27 for 120 yards, with one touchdown, one interception, and one sack, but Steichen made it clear that the numbers only told part of the story. “It just shows his commitment to coming back and playing the way he did and fighting like crazy for his teammates,” he added. “And I thought it was pretty awesome to see.”

Rivers is happy to return

Philip Rivers didn’t frame his return around rust or time away, instead pointing to what he felt immediately stepping back into the building. “Just being in that team meeting and the meetings last night and everything, and a whole week, these guys are all about it,” Rivers said, describing a locker room fully invested long before kickoff.

Rivers acknowledged that commitment alone doesn’t guarantee results, especially in the NFL’s narrow margins. “You can be all about it and you can go after something… and that doesn’t mean you’re going to win,” he explained, noting that effort is universal on Sundays. “There’s a lot of other teams that are doing it too that you’re playing against.”

Despite the disappointment of the 18–16 loss, Rivers didn’t hide what the night meant to him personally. “It was a real blessing to be back out there with the guys,” he said, before quickly shifting back to the result. “We didn’t find a way to get it done… a few plays here and there I’d like back. But all in all, we just didn’t find a way.”

When responding in the press conference about how he felt after his comeback from retirement, Rivers said: “Hopefully, my sons and those ball players that I’m in charge of at the school, they’ll say like, ‘C—, coach wasn’t scared.’“ In the game against the Seahawks, he threw one touchdown and one interception.

Despite appearing slightly heavy, Rivers managed to contribute a total of 120 passing yards. He also made it clear that the game wasn’t about him, stating: “This isn’t about me.” The quarterback returned after 1,800 days away and hadn’t thrown a football in an NFL game since 2020.

Rivers knows the Colts are chasing the playoffs

The loss wasn’t easy for Rivers or his teammates, knowing they are fighting to stay alive for a playoff berth. “We got a team that’s scrapping like crazy to try to stay alive and get in the postseason. So obviously, we’re all disappointed,” Rivers said after the game.

“Came up just short, game kind of played out just how we thought it was going to play out in terms of how we were going to win the game, kind of one of those grind-it-out kind of games. And we didn’t find a way to get it done, is the bottom line.”

Colts’ playoff picture

Rivers’ next game will be against the 49ers at home, another opportunity to snap their current losing streak and try to lift their current 17% playoff probability. The game against the 49ers is one of the Colts‘ final three regular-season matchups; the other two are against the Jaguars and Texans.