Key Highlights
- Philip Rivers was snubbed from the NFL Comeback Player of the Year voting.
- The criteria for the award emphasized overcoming injury or illness.
- Rivers came out of retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts after a five-year break.
- The five finalists for the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year include Dak Prescott, Trevor Lawrence, Aidan Hutchinson, and Stefon Diggs.
Philip Rivers’ Surprise Absence from NFL Comeback Award Contenders
Legendary quarterback Phillip Rivers was left out of the NFL’s prestigious Comeback Player of the Year voting, a decision that has left many fans questioning the criteria. Despite his remarkable comeback at age 44 to help the Indianapolis Colts, Rivers did not make it onto the list of finalists. This snub has sparked debate among sports enthusiasts and social media users.
Context Surrounding Philip Rivers’ Retirement U-turn
Rivers, a veteran who last played for the Colts in 2020 before ending his NFL career, came out of retirement to lead the team unexpectedly. The Colts were the surprise package of the 2025 regular season, achieving an impressive 8-1 record under newly signed quarterback Daniel Jones. However, disaster struck when Jones suffered a torn Achilles tendon, and backup quarterback Anthony Richardson was also injured.
Against all odds, Rivers stepped up to help his former organization, playing in three games as the starter despite not having taken a snap for five years. Despite finishing with a 0-3 record as a starter, Indianapolis still managed an 8-9 finish with strong performances from other players during the season.
Why Was Rivers Snubbed?
The Associated Press has clarified that this year’s Comeback Player of the Year Award is focused on players who have overcome significant adversity. The criteria explicitly state, “The spirit of the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award is to honor a player who has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury, or other circumstances that led him to miss playing time the previous season.” This means that Rivers’ absence is due to his record as a starter rather than his comeback itself.
Despite this clear guideline, fans reacted with shock and disappointment. One user wrote on social media, “If Philip Rivers isn’t the @NFL comeback player of the year, then something is wrong,” highlighting the public’s perception that Rivers’ return was significant enough to warrant consideration.
The Finalists for 2025 Comeback Player of the Year
Even though Rivers wasn’t a finalist, the NFL has announced five players in contention for the award. Among them are:
- Dak Prescott, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury and is now back from injury.
- Trevor Lawrence, who had season-ending shoulder surgery.
- Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a significant leg injury in October 2024.
- Stefon Diggs, who tore his ACL during the 2024 season but managed to reach 1,000 receiving yards and score four regular-season touchdowns this year.
- Christian McCaffrey, who played in just four games last season due to multiple injuries and is now a frontrunner with 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
The controversy surrounding Rivers’ snub has added an extra layer of excitement to the award race. While the criteria are clear, fans remain divided on whether Rivers should have been included in the final list of candidates for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.