Philip Rivers' message to his high school players: 'Coach wasn’t scared'

Key Highlights

• I’ve stood right here before, but it was 2018.
• … I hadn’t been in an NFL stadium like that, the center of it, calling the play — obviously, well-noted — in a long time.”Rivers’ story has captivated the country this week, prompting both praise and criticism for his willingness to come out of retirement after five years in an effort to give the Colts a chance after the loss of their top two quarterbacks. He wasn’t the same quarterback he’d been in Indianapolis in 2020.
• Rivers managed the game, completing 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards in an effort to play a grind-it-out style of ball he’s rarely played before. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut he played better than almost anybody expected, and when he tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs at the end of the first half, the cameras flashed back to Fairhope, where the St.
• Michael Catholic team went nuts at a watch party, exploding at the sight of their head coach throwing a touchdown pass in an NFL game. Rivers was asked about that moment after the game. For the second time that week, Rivers got emotional.
• The first time, Rivers got emotional about the prospect of helping out a head coach, a group of players and an organization he loves; this time, Rivers got emotional about the example he’d set for his new team, the one that came up just short in the state semifinal at the end of November. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Maybe it will inspire or teach them not to run or be scared of what may or may not happen,” Rivers said.