Philip Rivers’ unexpected return has stunned the NFL-but it has shocked Madden NFL players even more. As the 44-year-old quarterback prepares for a comeback, fans are still trying to wrap their heads around his videogame rating, which places him above quarterbacks nearly half his age.
The Indianapolis Colts were forced to get creative after losing Daniel Jones to a season-ending ACL tear. Even so, the decision to bring Rivers back raised plenty of eyebrows.
The last time Rivers played in an NFL game was during the 2020 playoffs, when the Colts fell to the Bills 27-24 in the Wild Card Round.
Nearly five years later, the league looks very different. Young talents like Jones, Bo Nix, and Shedeur Sanders are reshaping the quarterback landscape. Yet Madden insists Rivers is still better than some of them.
The surprising rating Madden NFL gave Rivers
While NFL fans are curious to see what Rivers can still do on the field, esports fans are baffled by the 70 overall rating Madden NFL 2026 assigned to the 18-season veteran.
A 70 puts Rivers on the same level as quarterbacks like Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton-both backups at this stage of their careers.
What truly stunned fans, however, is that Rivers ranks above Cleveland Browns rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, each rated at 69.
It’s less shocking that he sits above veterans like Carson Wentz or Russell Wilson, who have struggled throughout the 2025 season. Still, many believe a 44-year-old coming out of retirement shouldn’t be rated this highly.
But will Rivers start for the Colts this week?
Beyond the debate over his Madden rating, fans are wondering whether Rivers has any real chance of starting this weekend.
Analysts say the odds are extremely low. Jones’s primary backup is Riley Leonard, a rookie from Notre Dame who has been with the team all season.
Leonard is dealing with a knee injury, but if he’s healthy enough to play, Colts head coach Shane Steichen is expected to choose him over the newly thawed Rivers.
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