By Catholics for Catholics
After nearly five years of retirement, 44 year old quarterback Philip Rivers made his return to the NFL this past Sunday with the Indianapolis Colts who signed him to their practice squad earlier in the week.
Rivers, a father of 10 children and widely known for his devout Catholic faith, started the game for the Colts in their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. With less than two minutes to go in the first half, Rivers threw a touchdown pass to give Indianapolis the lead.
In a widely circulated video, the football players of St. Michael’s High School in Alabama can be seen erupting in celebration at a watch party back at home. Rivers has coached the team since his retirement and his son, Gunner, is the starting quarterback.
The high school team Philip Rivers coaches went crazy when their coach, who just unretired last week, threw his first TD pass back in the NFL.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 15, 2025
(🎥 via @cbssports, @colin_james1) pic.twitter.com/VOVPgBbEyZ
Despite being edged out by the Seahawks in a loss of 18-16, Rivers had a solid start for his first game off the bench in five years, throwing for 120 yards and completing 18 out of 27 passes.
Colts Coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Rivers will remain QB1 for their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.
Before his retirement, Rivers didn’t use Sunday games as an excuse to miss Mass. For him, the Blessed Sacrament always came first: “Once I’ve received the Eucharist, then I’m prepared to go out and play.”
“Something that might seem odd on the surface is this: If I put football above my faith and family, I think I’d be worse off as a player, not better,” he said in an interview back in 2012. “It’s a matter of putting things in the right order, which helps you to do each of those things as they ought to be done. Avoiding idolatry helps you to have the right perspective on life, which in turn helps you to live more effectively. Faith comes first, then family, then football.”
In his retirement statement in 2021, Rivers honored St. Sebastian, the martyr and patron saint of athletes, concluded with the Latin phrase, “NUNC COEPI” – “now I begin.” His public witness to the faith has inspired Catholics across the country.
“As a seminarian in Rome, I had the chance to meet and spend some time with the great Philip Rivers,” said John Yep, President of Catholics For Catholics. “Though I proudly wore my Chicago Bears jersey underneath my black cassock, which was a point of contention considering his loyalty to the San Diego Chargers, Phillip and I were able to connect over our shared love for the Catholic faith,” Yep said. “Above the passing fame of sports, Philip has given future generations of athletes an example of what ought to be our main priorities in life: God, family, and then football!”
Save and Share This Catholic Patriotic Minute!
