While the Kansas City Chiefs are in the midst of their own disaster of a season, the Indianapolis Colts have entered into that same territory. The Colts were 7-1 at one point and are 8-5 on the year a mere month later with their playoff hopes looking bleak due to the loss of quarterback Daniel Jones for the rest of the season.
With Jones out and rookie sixth-round pick Riley Leonard leading the way now, the Colts have brought in a strange possible option to fill in at quarterback for their final four regular season games as the team tries to push for a playoff spot. That would be retired (maybe not for long?) former Chargers and Colts quarterback (and Chiefs nemesis) Philip Rivers.
Ian Rapoport reported this news on Monday evening, noting that the Colts planned to bring Rivers in for a tryout. Rivers retired following the 2020 season after spending 16 years in the Chargers organization and one year in Indy. He's now 44 years old and potentially looking to make a comeback, which is strange but also hilarious.
On Tuesday, the day after Rivers' 44th birthday, it was confirmed that he'd be signing with Indianapolis. The 2025 season truly just keeps getting weirder.
He’s back: The #Colts are signing QB Philip Rivers to their practice squad, per The Insiders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 9, 2025
The Hall of Fame semifinalist, age 44, rejoins the Indy QB room to support Riley Leonard and serve as a potential option down the road. A dramatic return. pic.twitter.com/Ps3gpUNIsh
Not to be outdone, before the news of Rivers officially re-entering the league hit, former Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel threw his hat into the ring as a possible option for the Colts. Cassel reposted Rapoport's report about the Rivers tryout and tossed in his pitch to Colts GM Chris Ballard.
"Chris Ballard, gimme a shout. Arm's ready. Less kids. And not a grandpa yet," Cassel posted on X while also including a laughing emoji.
Chris Ballard, gimme a shout. Arm’s ready. Less kids. And not a grandpa yet 😂 https://t.co/SSU97x6m0P
— Matt Cassel (@M_Cassel16) December 9, 2025
Matt Cassel makes his pitch as a possible QB option for Colts
Cassel's obviously kidding here (or at least I think he is?) but the post is funny nonetheless. Cassel is not much younger than Rivers, sitting at 43 years old. He does indeed have fewer kids than Rivers with four to Rivers' 10 kids. He's also right in that he's not a grandpa yet. All facts from Cassel.
Chiefs fans don't particularly have fond memories of Cassel from his days in Kansas City but there were some good times. The Chiefs had a 10-6 record in the 2010 season and Cassel threw for 27 touchdowns and just seven picks in 15 games that year.
It obviously went downhill in the next two seasons but without that abomination from Cassel and the rest of the 2012 Chiefs team, Kansas City doesn't get Andy Reid and without Andy Reid, there's no Brett Veach and without Brett Veach, there's no Patrick Mahomes and, well... You get the idea.
Anyway, it was pretty funny seeing Cassel make his pitch here, even though he was likely kidding. His days in the NFL are long done but Rivers' clearly aren't. What a strange time we're living in, folks.