Philip Rivers' HOF Eligibility Resets After Colts Activation, What's His New Timeline?

Philip Rivers is set to make his first NFL appearance in almost five years this Sunday.

The Indianapolis Colts are planning for Rivers to start against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday.

The Colts had until 4 p.m. ET Saturday to officially promote Rivers to the active roster.

Rivers is currently a semifinalist to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026. Once activated, he will not be eligible for HOF consideration until 2031.

Players must have been retired for at least five years before they can be considered for enshrinement in Canton.

Rivers, who last played during the 2020 season for the Colts, had made it to the 26-person semifinal round in his first year of candidacy.

The 44-year-old told reporters earlier this week that delaying his Hall of Fame candidacy was "not a factor" in deciding whether to sign with the Colts' practice squad earlier this week.

"It's a real honor to be mentioned with those other 25 guys, certainly," Rivers said Wednesday. "But I'm not holding my breath on that, and I hadn't been counting down the years.

"With all respect to the Hall— and if one day I can be part of that group, it will be special, no question about it— but the extension of that time, if it comes to be, was not a factor in my thinking."

The abrupt pivot to Rivers took place after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during last Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Backup quarterback Riley Leonard then suffered a knee injury after stepping in for Jones, coach Shane Steichen told reporters earlier this week.

With Anthony Richardson still on injured reserve, that left the Colts with practice squad quarterback Riley Leonard as potentially the only available option.

Rivers has familiarity with Steichen's offensive scheme, which he ran while coaching his son's high school team this season, per JJ Watt.

The Colts will hope that knowledge will help Rivers find success despite his years away from the game when the quarterback makes his NFL comeback during starting Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.