Why Tom Brady’s Raiders Co-Ownership Could Be the Hidden Reason He’s Not Playing at 48 Like Philip Rivers

At 44 years old and nearly half a decade since the last time he took to the NFL field, Philip Rivers is gearing up to dust off his cleats for one more shot at the playoffs — this time with the Indianapolis Colts. Sounds bonkers, right? Well, blame it on the Colts’ string of dreadful injuries: Daniel Jones sidelined with a torn Achilles, coupled with backups Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson also nursing their own wounds. This isn’t just a wild story; it’s almost unheard of in the league’s storied history. To think, a seasoned grandfather like Rivers stepping back into the spotlight — even one solid game could etch his name deeper into NFL folklore. Meanwhile, 48-year-old Tom Brady, never one to shy away from competition, swears he could jump off the couch and still orchestrate a winning drive — if it weren’t for his part-ownership in the Raiders. The league’s rules on ownership make it impossible for Brady to follow in Rivers’ footsteps, leaving fans to wonder what might have been. With Rivers eyeing a possible start against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, Colts fans and football enthusiasts alike are holding their breath, waiting to see if this incredible comeback tale will live up to the hype. LEARN MORE

At the age of 44 and nearly five years removed from his last NFL snap, Philip Rivers is coming out of retirement in an attempt to get the Indianapolis Colts into the playoffs.

It’s an absurd situation, created by the Colts’ loss of Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles tendon and additional injuries for backups Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson. It’s something nearly without precedent in the NFL. Even one good start would land Rivers, a grandfather, in NFL lore.

So naturally, 48-year-old Tom Brady thinks he could also do it. There’s just one thing holding him back.

The New England Patriots great addressed the return of his longtime quarterbacking peer on Fox Sports’ “The Herd” on Thursday. When asked if he could get off the couch and, with a passing knowledge of the offense, generate drives in an NFL game this weekend, Brady answered in the affirmative while mocking his own return from retirement:

“Yes, I certainly could. But first of all, who retires and then unretires and then is ultimately going to retire again? Who does that? That’s ridiculous for Philip to do that. But good for him, I’m happy he’s doing it.

“I think the answer for me would be yes. I’m not allowed to anymore because I’m a minority owner of the Raiders, so I can’t unretire, but I’m very excited to watch Philip play because I just think it’s very cool.”

Brady is correct in that the only way for him to pull a Rivers would be to sell his stake in the Raiders. The NFL explicitly forbids its players from owning shares in franchises, and some teams are already antsy enough about Brady working as a broadcaster for Fox while holding shares in a team.

So it appears we’ll never be able to see if Brady can prove himself right.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Draw assistant Tom Brady speaks on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) — Of course Tom Brady thinks he could still play in the NFL. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

(Patrick Smith via Getty Images)

Brady, who played in the NFL until he was 45, was overall bullish on Rivers’ chances to succeed if he gets a start for the Colts:

“It speaks to how much he loves the game and really what he’s still able to do. This game is about, for the quarterback, from the neck up. We used to have a saying at Michigan, the mental is to the physical as four is to one at the quarterback position. That doesn’t really go away. That’s still up there.

“Do you still have the physical ability to do it, take the hits, make the throws, the drops, buy a little time in the pocket? If Philip has been practicing those things, then we’re all going to see it on full display in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.”

It’s still undecided if Rivers or a returning Leonard will get the start for the Colts against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Because Rivers is technically on the practice squad, Indianapolis would have to elevate him before the game if he is to play.