SANTA CLARA — Philip Rivers was almost a 49er and had what will likely be a Hall of Fame career launched in part by the 49ers’ general manager.
Now at 44 years old, Rivers is tasked with trying to save the Indianapolis Colts’ season as well as delay the 49ers’ guaranteed entry into the NFL postseason.
Having not played since 2020, Rivers was called out of retirement after coaching high school football in Alabama for four years after Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones ruptured his right Achilles in a Week 14 loss to Jacksonville.
With the Colts playing it safe against a tough Seattle defense, Rivers had the Colts in position to win with 47 seconds to play after a 60-yard field goal by Blake Grupe. Sam Darnold, however, got Seattle quickly in position for a game-winning 56-yard field goal by Jason Myers with 18 seconds left.
Rivers was 18-for-27 for 120 yards, an 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Downs and an interception. Reviews of his plays were unkind. The 49ers will prepare as if they’re seeing Rivers in his prime as opposed to a father of 10 with a grandchild.
“It’s insane to be able to cold-turkey it and come back five years later, complete passes and go through an offense and compete and have his team in position to win games,” 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said Friday.
Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers head coach, said he hasn’t seen a lot of slippage.
“He is a little bit older, so he might not be quite as fast, might not be able to throw it the same distance he used to, but I see a guy who knows how to play the position as good as anyone,” Shanahan said. He had 27 throws and every ball goes right to the exact spot. He played against a good pass rush and was able to get rid of the ball. He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever watch he definitely helped that team.”
There was a scenario where Rivers could have been the quarterback for the 49ers in 2022. After Trey Lance (ankle) and Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) went down for the season, the 49ers were left with Purdy, the last pick of the NFL Draft.
Purdy immediately responded by leading the 49ers past the Dolphins, but not before general manager John Lynch put in a call to Rivers and put him in touch with Shanahan. Shanahan told him they felt pretty good about Purdy but couldn’t be sure which way the season would go. Rivers even began looking in on offensive meetings on Zoom just in case.
“He was staying with it just in case it was needed and in case something changed,” Shanahan said. “He was always in there, but no one really knew.”
Purdy, of course, led the 49ers all the way to the NFC Championship Game before his right elbow was shredded in the first quarter. The 49ers lost 31-7. If they had somehow had won, Rivers likely would have been the 49ers’ quarterback in the Super Bowl.
Rivers felt good about his comeback game against Seattle when talking to local reporters.
“I didn’t feel like it was too different,” Rivers said. “It seems like defenses are better as far as disguises go. Personally, it was encouraging, but the name of the game is winning. Now we have to move past that one.”
At 6-foot-5, 228 pounds (maybe a little more now), Rivers has never been a prototypical quarterback. He’s got an elongated release and a so-so throwing arm but can throw with timing and anticipation. He may have slowed down, but it’s not as if speed was ever a big part of his game.
“He’s able to get the ball out,” Shanahan said. “It’s a unique talent, some people have it and some people don’t. When things are moving fast at an elite level, athletically, it’s hard to get away from guys. It’s about getting rid of the ball and letting someone else do it.”
Although they’re very different in terms of style, Purdy and Rivers excel at the mental game and involving teammates.
“It’s 90 percent mental, man, knowing where you’ve got to go with the ball, throwing on time, knowing when guys are coming out of their breaks, when to throw a ball and when not to,” Purdy said. “Philip Rivers has done that better than just about anybody in the history of football.”
Rivers believes he can still get the ball downfield even if it didn’t happen against Seattle.
“I don’t feel any real limitations pushing the ball downfield,” Rivers said. “Am I going to throw it 60 yards? No, but I can’t name many times where I did that anyway.”
Gus Bradley, a 49ers assistant, was one of Rivers’ head coaches with the Los Angeles Chargers and has remained a friend. Bradley even put Rivers on the phone with Shanahan and later tight end George Kittle when it looked as if coming back to play with the Colts was a possibility. Rivers loves on-field give and take and trash talk, albeit without profanity, and is an engaging personality.
“I was walking past coach Gus’ office,” Kittle said. “I hop on the phone for about 10 minutes. He said he likes how I run block. I love watching him mic’d up. I love watching his interviews. Kyle showed us a bunch of clips from the Seattle game. The dude has still got it.”
The Lynch factor
It turns out Lynch helped elevate the careers of both Rivers and Drew Brees, which accounts for 131,570 yards, 913 touchdowns, 400 interceptions, and two likely busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On New Year’s Eve 2005, with the Chargers playing the Denver Broncos, Lynch came on a safety blitz, sacking Brees for an 8-yard loss and dislocating his right shoulder. Rivers came in to make his debut, throwing incomplete on his first pass and then drawing a delay of game penalty. Denver won 23-7.
But the Chargers, who traded with the Giants for top pick Eli Manning, settled on Rivers going forward and Brees signed with New Orleans. Lynch has talked about it with Rivers on occasion — the two had children go to school together in San Diego — and reminded Brees of it last week when he was doing analysis of the 49ers’ game against Tennessee.
“I always have fun with that,” Lynch said Friday on KNBR-680. “I kind of gave him his opportunity to play in the NFL, and I got (Drew) his opportunity in New Orleans.”
Seattle fans
A 38-37 win for Seattle put the 49ers in position for the No. 1 seed if they win out, although players are mostly looking at Indianapolis.
“Now we’re able to compete for that No. 1 seed and then everything has to come through Santa Clara, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said.
Especially satisfying is that two former 49ers — quarterback Darnold and tight end Eric Saubert — collaborated on the 2-point conversion that won the game in overtime.
“It was pretty cool for them to finish the game the way they did, and knowing Sam and Sauby was cool, seeing him take of his helmet and celebrate,” Purdy said. “It’s good for them but we still have to take care of our business this week.”
Practice report
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) and linebacker Nick Martin (concussion) worked on the side as the only 49ers who did not practice.
Defensive linemen Jordan Elliott (knee), Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) and Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring; injured reserve) participated, as did linebackers Tatum Bethune (ankle) and Eric Kendricks (calf; practice squad).
Cornerback Renardo Green (neck) wore a no-contact jersey and was also limited. Spencer Burford (ankle/knee) was limited. Dee Winters was added to the injury list with a wrist injury but was a full participant.
Running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams resumed practicing after routine rest Thursday.