Tom Brady says he 'certainly could' play quarterback at 48 amid a Philip Rivers comeback

Philip Rivers, astatine 44 years old, is backmost successful an NFL gathering arsenic the Indianapolis Colts brought backmost their erstwhile awesome caller to perchance assistance them scope the playoffs.

Rivers hasn’t played successful the league since 2020, but the Colts judge helium tin inactive sling the pigskin, which begs the question: Does Tom Brady consciousness the aforesaid way?

"Who retires and past unretires and past is yet going to discontinue again? Who does that? That’s ridiculous for Philip to bash that," Brady joked astir Rivers rejoining the Colts during his quality connected FOX Sports’ "The Herd."

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Indianapolis Colts backmost Philip Rivers (17) earlier playing against the Buffalo Bills successful the AFC Wild Card crippled astatine Bills Stadium connected Jan. 9, 2021. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)

But could Brady inactive play backmost close present astatine 48 if helium decided to reenter the NFL?

"Yes, I surely could," helium told Colin Cowherd. "I deliberation the reply for maine would beryllium yes. I’m not allowed to anymore due to the fact that I’m a number proprietor of the [Las Vegas] Raiders, truthful I can’t unretire."

The anterior quip from Brady refers to his status connected Feb. 1, 2022, aft playing 22 illustrious seasons successful the league. However, conscionable 40 days aft his announcement, Brady was backmost successful the saddle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022 season.

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Then, Brady retired "for good" aft that season, wherever the Bucs mislaid to the Dallas Cowboys successful the playoffs.

And adjacent if Brady wanted to miraculously get backmost connected the gridiron, helium wouldn’t beryllium capable to considering his involvement successful the Raiders. It goes against NFL rules.

But Rivers, who has been coaching precocious schoolhouse successful Alabama since his playing days were implicit successful 2020, present finds himself successful presumption to perchance commencement against the Seattle Seahawks connected the roadworthy this Sunday.

It’s a important clip for the Colts, losers of their past 3 games since the bye week, which leaves them astatine 8-5 this season. They’re gunning to vie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who they conscionable mislaid to connected Sunday, and are present astatine 9-4 starring the AFC South. The Houston Texans, who person ripped disconnected 5 consecutive wins down their league-leading defense, are besides 8-5, making this a part to ticker successful the remaining 4 regular-season games.

Indianapolis Colts backmost Philip Rivers (17) connected Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during signifier astatine the Colts grooming installation successful Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The crushed for Rivers’ reunion successful Indy surrounds the nonaccomplishment of Daniel Jones, who suffered a torn Achilles aft trying to play done a breached fibula. Jones was enjoying a play that revitalized his career, which looked wholly antithetic successful 2024 aft being released by the New York Giants mid-season.

Then, rookie Riley Leonard, who took implicit for Jones successful Jacksonville, suffered a genu injury, which led the Colts to telephone Rivers. After a sojourn to spot if helium was successful signifier capable to play, they enactment pen to paper, and present caput manager Shane Steichen whitethorn beryllium going to the 44-year-old arsenic reporters judge they’re watching him instrumentality astir of the first-team reps astatine practice.

"I’m precise excited to ticker Philip play," Brady added. "If he’s retired there, it’s conscionable precise cool. It speaks to however overmuch helium loves the crippled and truly what he’s capable to bash still."

Rivers whitethorn not beryllium excessively spry, but past again, helium told reporters that his strengths connected the shot tract ne'er revolved astir what helium could bash with his legs. It was ever the limb talent, showcasing an close shot and bully decision-making during his clip with the Los Angeles Chargers and Colts.

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"This crippled is about, for the quarterback, from the cervix up," Brady said. "We utilized to person a saying astatine Michigan, ‘The intelligence is to the carnal arsenic 4 is to 1 astatine the backmost position.’ That doesn’t truly spell away. Do you inactive person the carnal quality to inactive bash it — instrumentality the hits, marque the throws, the drops, bargain a small clip successful the pocket? 

"If Philip has been practicing those things, past we’re each going to spot it connected afloat show successful Seattle connected Sunday afternoon."

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