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The Indianapolis Colts, despite a 7-1 start to the 2025 season, are going to miss the playoffs. They are the first team since the 1995 Oakland Raiders to have an 8-2 record during a season and miss the postseason.
There are numerous reasons why this year's Colts won't play in the playoffs, but the focus is going to be on the quarterback position and what the team should do moving forward.
Daniel Jones had the team playing quite well as the starter this season, but an Achilles tear, suffered on a play where he was not contacted, ended his season in the beginning of December. That led to the Colts making the shocking decision to bring Philip Rivers back after nearly five years away from the game.
Though the Colts have lost in all three of the games that Rivers has started, he has played quite well for a 44-year old who was thought to be retired following the 2020 season. He showed strong command of the offense and he was able to get players involved who don't normally do much, most notably Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
A teary-eyed Philip Rivers on today possibly being his last game: “If I go back and say, ‘Now you know everything that’s gonna happen, what would you do?’ I’d do it all again. … I got 3 bonus games that I never saw coming and I couldn’t be more grateful.” pic.twitter.com/YciJ3l2yga
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 28, 2025So what should the Colts do at the quarterback position in 2025?
Colts should bring back Philip Rivers
That will likely sound a bit controversial, as Rivers is only going to be older. But the knowledge the man brings to this team specifically is something the organization should want to keep around. It's the same reason why Joe Flacco continues to hold a backup job in the league. Both are also players who, if provided enough pass protection, will come in and fearlessly chuck the ball around as well as anyone currently playing.
Sure, Rivers has lost some arm strength. He was never mobile. But he can still be a great help to the development of the players on the team.
Anthony Richardson is not going to do that at this point. He was easily beaten out by Jones as the team's starter this preseason and has not played a single down due to a scary injury that sidelined him for the season. But when he's been out there, he hasn't been very good.
He has completed only 50 percent of his career passes while throwing 13 interceptions to only 11 touchdowns. He has rushed for 10 touchdowns and at only 23 years old, his career could still have plenty of time left. But the Colts shouldn't be hoping for that.
Instead, they should shop Richardson around this offseason and take the best offer they can get for him.
Prior to that, the team should sign Jones to a long-term deal as its signal caller of the future. In the 13 games he played in this season, Jones completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards with 19 touchdowns. For the first half of the season, he was a legitimate MVP candidate and going forward, he's a significantly better option than Richardson.
The team could then sign Rivers to a one-year deal and keep Riley Leonard as the No. 3 quarterback and a player who could still have a chance to develop into a significant contributor for the team.
Maybe this short ride for Rivers has just been too much fun and it doesn't seem like it should end yet. But at the same time, if he still has a desire to play, maybe get into slightly better shape this offseason and help guys like Jones and Leonard at the quarterback position while being a tremendous overall leader for the rest of the team, why wouldn't the Colts want to do that?
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