We live in an incredible time where someone can go from high school head coach to starting NFL quarterback in the matter of mere days.
For a second straight season, we're witnessing just that. A head coach coming off a deep playoff run is stepping back into the NFL after being signed by his former team.
Last year, that was Teddy Bridgewater, who returned to the NFL with the Detroit Lions as they began their playoff push following a run to a state title as the first-year head coach at his alma mater - Miami Northwestern HS (FL).
But after the FHSAA brought the hammer down on Bridgewater after he asked for donations for some rather unconventional expenses that ranged from Uber rides for players to catered meals during camp to $1,300 per week for a mobile recovery truck to come tend to his players, eventually leading to a suspension for the former NFL veteran, Bridgewater found himself back in the NFL prior to the start of the season after agreeing to a deal to back up Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Following an injury to Daniel Jones, who had started the season as one of the most surprising stories in the NFL leading the Indianapolis Colts to a surprise 8-4 record heading into last weekend's matchup with the Jaguars after the former first-round pick was benched and the granted a release by the Giants last fall, the Colts are turning to a familiar face to help them sustain their hot start.
Philip Rivers, who enjoyed a 16-year run with the Chargers after being drafted fourth overall out of NC State back in 2004, before ending his career with the Colts back in 2020, is set for a return to the NFL.
Adam Schefter, among others, are sharing the Rivers is being signed to the Colts practice squad. Jones, who suffered a torn achilles during the Jacksonville game on Sunday and is out for the season, was one of just two quarterbacks the team has listed on their roster. The other? Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard who had thrown just two career passes prior to being thrust into the action against the AFC South leading Jaguars, who ironically worked alongside Rivers to prepare for the draft.
In signing the veteran quarterback, Rivers joins a team where at 44 years old, he is older than both head coach Shane Steichen (40) and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter (41). Before they can determine whether he can play, Rivers will have to go through practice on Wednesday and Thursday to see how he feels, Adam Schefter notes, but goes on to share that offensively its the same offensive terminology he played in his entire career, so that transition should be smooth.
Since leaving the league in 2020 after an 11-5 season, Rivers has served as the head coach at St. Michael Catholic HS (AL), program he has helped build from the ground up. After an 8-3 debut season leading the team, Rivers went 5-5 in year two. Then, heading into year three, his son Gunnar Rivers took the reigns at quarterback for his dad's team and the two went 6-5 together.
The past two seasons have been special for the duo, going 12-2 and 13-1 with losses to Jackson HS (AL) in the semis the last two seasons.
Heading into his senior year, Gunnar is an uncommitted four-star quarterback from the 2027 class, and he holds offers from Auburn, Boston College, Miami, NC State and South Carolina (among others).
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.