Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen is considering the possibility of reuniting with longtime signal-caller Philip Rivers. This is a welcome relief after a challenging week for the team. Rivers had experience playing under Steichen when they both were with the Los Angeles Chargers. He is a close friend, more importantly, a trusted confidante in Steichen’s offensive operation. The need for a quick decision has shot up even higher since New York Giants QB Daniel Jones went down with a crushing Achilles tear. To his credit, in response, Steichen immediately contacted Rivers the day after the incident.
Shane Steichen was an assistant coach for the Chargers from 2016 – 2021. Along with that, he tutored Philip Rivers for six years. Their relationship deepened during Steichen’s tenure as the interim offensive coordinator in 2019, which marked Rivers’ last season with the Chargers. As the new head coach of the Colts, Steichen has a monumental decision on his hands. He needs to figure out if Rivers needs to come back as a possible starter.
Rivers’ long-time command of the offensive playbook. He was an integral part in creating Steichen’s scheme when they overlapped together. “That’s a big deal to be able to see that call sheet Tuesday morning and be able to know what every play is,” Rivers noted. The familiarity should make his transition back onto the field no matter what, whenever he chooses to come back.
In terms of Rivers’ potential comeback, Steichen was optimistic, but noted that it all depends on how he feels during the week. Steichen added that it’s the week’s results that will matter most. He said that Rivers’ practice performance would decide if he would get the starting role. He continued to say Rivers would need to prove he is ready in practices before any final decisions would be made.
Though Steichen is hopeful, he knows there’s no guarantee of that kind of return. It really depends on Philip’s comfort level,” he added. In making any decision, he added, the focus will always be on Rivers’ wellbeing.
The Colts are still an in-formation-team as they try to figure out their QB of the future. With the team’s future at stake and injuries affecting other teams in the league, Steichen’s relationship with Rivers could prove pivotal.
Notably, Steichen’s credentials extend beyond coaching. He is a former top-10 national winner in explanatory journalism from the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has won a number of awards for column writing, perhaps most notably a first place award in the Indiana Associated Press Media Editors contest in 2015. His roots as a journalist come across in the way he thinks about coaching and strategy.
This is an important crossroads in Steichen’s career. He’s committed to creating a winning team culture and cultivating strong relationships with his players. Steichen and Rivers have a longstanding close friendship that deepened the stakes of this ironic twist. Though deeply collaborative through decades of professional partnership, this work has fortified their bond.
Rivers, who has not played since retiring after the 2020 season, expressed his feelings about Jones’ injury and its implications: “I feel terrible for Daniel … And I have to admit, I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if Shane will call.’” This statement illustrates the mutual respect and concern shared between the two quarterbacks, suggesting that Rivers is open to discussing a potential return.
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