Tom Brady Weighs In On Philip Rivers Coming Out Of Retirement; Is He Next?
Just when you thought the NFL couldn’t get any weirder in 2025, Philip Rivers is dusting off his cleats. At 44 years old, the father of nine is reportedly leaving the carpool line to join the Indianapolis Colts. With Rivers officially back in the mix, the football world collectively turned its eyes toward another retiree: Tom Brady.
If Rivers can do it at 44, surely the 48-year-old G.O.A.T. has one more run in him, right? According to Brady himself, the answer is a resounding yes—even if the rulebook says no.
Brady Claims He Could Still Sling It
During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, he didn’t hesitate when asked the big question. Cowherd wanted to know if Brady, pushing 50, could still step into a huddle and lead a team down the field for a scoring drive.
“Yes, I certainly could,” Brady said, sounding as confident as he did during those Super Bowl runs with the Patriots and Bucs. “I think the answer for me would be yes.”
It is not exactly a shocking admission from a guy who obsessed over avocado ice cream and pliability for two decades. When he walked away after the 2022 season at age 45, he wasn’t exactly a shell of himself. He had just thrown for over 4,600 yards. The arm talent didn’t vanish; the desire to get hit by 300-pound linemen did. But hearing him admit he still has the physical tools is enough to make quarterback-needy teams weep into their playbooks.
Why Ownership Stops a Brady Comeback
Here is the cold water for anyone hoping to see No. 12 back under center. Brady isn’t just a retired player anymore; he’s part of management. His bid to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders was approved in October 2024, and that status comes with strict league regulations.
“I’m not allowed to anymore because I’m a minority owner of the Raiders, so I can’t unretire,” he said.
It’s a cruel twist of irony. The Raiders are currently sitting at 2-11, dealing with injuries to Geno Smith, and arguably have the perfect candidate sitting right in their owner’s box. But unless Brady sells his stake, which seems unlikely, his playing days are legally over.
Brady Pokes Fun At the Un-Retirement Club
While he can’t join Rivers on the field, he is watching the situation with a mix of excitement and humor. Rivers had been out of the league for five years, coaching high school ball and raising a small army of children, before the Colts called him up to replace the injured Daniel Jones.
Brady, who famously retired for 40 days before returning to Tampa Bay, couldn’t help but crack a joke about the indecisiveness of veteran quarterbacks.
“Who retires and then un-retires and then is ultimately going to retire again? Who does that?” Brady said. “That’s ridiculous for Philip to do that.”
Jokes aside, there is real respect there. Brady noted that the quarterback position is “from the neck up,” a sentiment Rivers embodies perfectly.
“The mental is to the physical as four is to one,” Brady said, quoting an old Michigan saying. “If Philip has been practicing those things, then we’re all going to see it on full display in Seattle.”
For now, fans will have to settle for watching Rivers try to turn back the clock this Sunday. As for Brady? He’ll be watching from the booth or the owner’s suite, knowing full well he could probably still throw a better spiral than half the league.
