At a Glance
- Rivers will not start Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans; rookie Riley Leonard takes the starting role.
- The Indy Colts finish 8-8, missing the playoffs after a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Rivers ends an 18-year career with 425 TD passes, 63,984 yards, and 134 wins.
- Why it matters: It signals the close of a legendary career and a shift in Colts’ future direction.
The Indianapolis Colts have decided to hand the starting quarterback role to rookie Riley Leonard for Sunday’s season-finale against the Houston Texans, ending the brief comeback of 44-year-old Rivers.
Final Snap for Rivers
Rivers will not start Sunday’s game, a decision announced by coach Shane Steichen after the Colts’ 8-8 finish and a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He went 0-3 in the three games he played, giving the Colts chances in each.
During the Sunday press conference, Rivers said:
> “If this was the last one – shoot again, I told you guys I wouldn’t have any regrets about coming back, and I don’t,”
> “Other than us not winning, right – us not winning. It’s been an absolute blast for three weeks. If I’d go back and say, ‘All right, now you know everything that is going to happen. What are you going to do?’ I’d do it all again. It’s been absolutely awesome.”
Roster and Coaching Shake-Ups
The Colts face possible coaching changes, with Steichen and GM Chris Ballard potentially leaving after the season.
Key roster moves include:
- Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon.
- Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone.
- Seth Henigan signed to the practice squad, giving Rivers a chance to take a few more snaps.
Steichen added on Monday:
> “He’s still got the eye limitations, and we just want to be really smart with that to be completely honest.”
Career Milestones
Rivers finishes his career with 425 TD passes, 63,984 yards, and 134 wins, ranking 6th, 8th, and 9th respectively in NFL history.
He was the last quarterback to lead the Colts to the playoffs in 2020 and also coaches at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.
| Career Rank | Statistic |
|---|---|
| 6th all-time | 425 TD passes |
| 8th all-time | 63,984 yards |
| 9th all-time | 134 wins |
Rivers said when asked about another comeback:
> “Oh yeah, yeah. I’ll be right back on the sideline,”
> “which I’m sure many watching probably said that’s probably where you belong.”
Key Takeaways
- Riley Leonard will start the final game of the Colts’ season.
- Rivers ends his career with record-setting stats and no regrets.
- The Colts may undergo coaching and roster changes after an 8-8 finish.
The Colts’ season may be over, but the legacy of Rivers continues to shape the franchise’s future.
