Colts
Colts QB Philip Rivers spoke to the media after the team fell to the Jaguars in Week 17 and said he won’t be coming back next season, yet he has no regrets about doing so in an attempt to help the team reach the playoffs.
“I told you guys I wasn’t going to have any regrets about coming back and I don’t,” Rivers said, via ESPN. “Other than us not winning … it’s been an absolute blast for three weeks. If I go back and say, ‘ Alright, now you know everything’s going to happen, what are you going to do?’ I’d do it all again. It’s been absolutely awesome. So, yeah, I mean, if it’s the last one, it’s the last one.”
It now appears that Rivers will (once again) play his final NFL game in Week 18.
“I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo or walking up that tunnel,” Rivers told reporters. “And I was fine with that. And that one had tears those few days after. And I was at peace with that being the last one. So, certainly if it is [the last game], I got three bonus games that I never saw coming and couldn’t be more thankful that I got an opportunity. I’m going to be on board and supportive of whatever the organization, [Steichen] and however that decision’s going to come to be. I’m sure I’ll have some conversation. It won’t just be a blindside Tuesday conversation from him.”
Rivers said he plans to return to Fairhope, Alabama, and will continue to coach St. Michael Catholic football.
“I’ll be right back on the sideline [coaching],” Rivers laughed. “I’m sure many watching probably said that’s probably where you belong.”
Colts
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon is finishing up her first season as the primary lead of the team, where she has taken a much more hands-on approach than others in her position. Indianapolis GM Chris Ballard appreciates Irsay-Gordon’s curiosity and says she’s earned the right to be so active because of her work ethic and respect for others.
“She lets you work,” Ballard said, via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. “She’s gonna ask great questions … she’s gonna challenge your thinking … but she does it out of curiosity, not in a way where she’s judging your decisions.”
“She’s earned that because of her work ethic, because of how she treats others, because she’s so inquisitive and gets to know people,” Ballard said. “She has put in the time and earned her way.”
Irsay-Gordon explained the reasoning behind having strong connections with everyone on her staff. She also spoke on her mindset regarding change, saying they will do whatever is needed to stay competitive.
“I think when people have that connection and you have those relationships, then you don’t get people pointing fingers as much,” Irsay-Gordon said. “Or, if you get people pointing fingers, someone else stands up and says ‘no — what good is blaming someone gonna do if we don’t focus on finding the solution?’ That’s where you develop learning mindsets; growth mindsets. People not afraid to be curious.”
“It’s not change just to change. We have to compete with other teams. We have to look outside and define meaningfully what is going on outside and how do we need to pivot inside in order to remain relevant, in order to remain competitive?”
Texans
- Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on the team’s top-ranked defense: “Still things we can clean up and play even better. We continue to play with that edge and mindset, all those great defenses you mentioned, there was an edge and mindset, physicality, pride of those defenses that you won’t get a yard on us.” (Wilson)
- Per Aaron Wilson, Texans CB Alijah Huzzie was signed through the 2026 season with a $1.005 base salary, $40k signing bonus, and $10k workout bonus.
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