Philip Rivers Says He 'Couldn't Be More Thankful' to Have Played 'Bonus Games' After Colts' Loss

NEED TO KNOW

• Colts quarterback Philip Rivers expressed his gratitude for playing three "bonus games" after the team's 23-17 loss to the Jaguars on Dec. 28
• Rivers, 44, said he "never saw" the opportunity coming and he "couldn't be more thankful" for it
• The father of 10 said he'll return to coaching the St. Michael Catholic High School Cardinals in Alabama once the NFL season ends
  

Philip Rivers said he's grateful for the chance to play quarterback once again.

After the Indianapolis Colts' 23-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 28, the 44-year-old quarterback spoke to reporters, including ESPN, and expressed his gratitude for the organization calling him to suit up again.

"I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo or walking up that tunnel, and I was fine with that, and that one had tears those few days after," Rivers said. "I was at peace with that being the last one."

He continued, "I got three bonus games that I never saw coming and couldn't be more thankful that I got an opportunity."

Rivers may not get the start in the Colts' next game on Sunday, Jan. 4 against the Houston Texans.

"I told you guys I wasn't going to have any regrets about coming back and I don't. Other than us not winning," he added, "It's been an absolute blast for three weeks."

Now that the Colts have officially been eliminated from postseason contention, the team will likely shut down Rivers and start rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, according to NFL.com.

"If I go back and say, 'All right, now you know everything's going to happen, what are you going to do?' I'd do it all again," he shared. "It's been absolutely awesome. So, yeah, I mean, if it's the last one, it's the last one."

And when the season is over, Rivers said he'll return to coaching the St. Michael Catholic High School Cardinals in Fairhope, Alabama. "I'll be right back on the sideline [coaching]," he said.

"I'm sure many watching probably said that's probably where you belong," Rivers joked.

Rivers' return to the NFL was an unexpected storyline this season after the Colts lost quarterback Daniel Jones to injury. After his first game of the season, Rivers said he was "just thankful, grateful, that I was out there," Rivers said, according to ESPN and Fox. "And it was a blast. It was a blast."

His unretirement also gave Rivers an extension of an NFL perk. Rivers, who returned to play nearly five years after his retirement in 2021, is now eligible to receive coverage for himself and his wife, Tiffany, and their 10 children for an additional five years.

Rivers’ health insurance benefits were due to expire in August 2026, according to The Athletic. NFL players receive five years of medical and dental insurance after their retirement thanks to the 2006 agreement brokered by the NFL Players Association.

Read the original article on People