Colts Believe Philip Rivers Can Play “Multiple” Years

In a session with reporters, Colts HC Frank Reich expressed his belief that new QB Philip Rivers will be the team’s starting quarterback for more than just the 2020 season. 

“I can just tell you I really believe it’s Philip’s intent to play multiple years (with the Colts),” Reich said via the Athletic’s Zak Keefer. “… I’m very optimistic it will be a multiple-year thing.”

Reich did emphasize it’s the NFL and the only guarantees are the one year Rivers is under contract. Not only does Rivers have to prove himself this season, the organization has to prove itself to Rivers for more than one year to be on the table. 

Here's Colts coach Frank Reich on QB Philip Rivers' intent to play "multiple years." pic.twitter.com/IYIeEu3flL

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) May 18, 2020

Before he signed a one-year, $25 million deal with the Colts in free agency, the 38-year-old Rivers said back in February he thought he could play two more years “maximum” as he weighed his options following his departure from the Chargers. 

“I can say for certain that if I’m playing, it’s a two-year maximum,” Rivers said. “Whoever the suitors are, I think that would be their hope as well. Because you never know how it goes. Shoot, if we stink it up after one year, I’m probably done. If we play really good, they’ll probably want to go again.” 

Rivers has already lined up a job as the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama and has said before his goal is to coach his sons in high school like his father did for him. 

ESPN was also reportedly sniffing around Rivers for an analyst job, so Rivers has no shortage of options for the future. 

Indianapolis still has former starter, Jacoby Brissett, as a backup, but the only other quarterback under contract beyond 2020 is fourth-round QB Jacob Eason, so if Rivers plays well this year, the team would likely be thrilled to have him back for another season.

Rivers, 38, is a former first-round pick of the Giants back in 2004. He was later traded to the Chargers in return for Eli Manning.

Rivers just played out the final year of his five-year, $99 million contract that included $65 million guaranteed and made a base salary of $11 million for the 2019 season. 

In 2019, Rivers appeared in all 16 games for the Chargers and completed 66 percent of his passes for 4,615 yards, 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.