CARSON, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 15: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers hands the ball off to Melvin Gordon #25 of the Los Angeles Chargers against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 15, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts could be a good marriage in free agency, and at least one of his former teammates agrees.
The writing was on the wall, so it’s not surprise Philip Rivers will not be back with the Los Angeles Chargers. The veteran signal caller will have some options as he hits free agency, with some big dominoes that sit in front of him possibly determining where he lands.
Melvin Gordon is also set to hit free agency after playing for the Chargers, and the odds he is back with team feel remote. During an appearance on CBS Sports Network’s “We Need To Talk,” Gordon offered his prediction for where Rivers will land.
“I think he’ll go to the Colts,” Gordon told CBS Sports. “I don’t know, that’s just my thought. . . . He has Nick there, the offensive coordinator, he came from here. . . . They run the same playbook so it would be easy, he can be telling guys what to do. . . . I think that’s probably the best fit.”
Colts head coach Frank Reich was the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach for one season (2013) and offensive coordinator for two seasons (2014 and 2015), so that’s a significant tie to Rivers. And as Gordon mentioned Colts’ offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni was on the Chargers’ coaching staff from 2013-2017, including two seasons as quarterbacks coach (2014 and 2015). In 2015, Rivers threw for a career-high 4,792 yards.
Jacoby Brissett has one year left on his contract. But the Colts are not totally married to him as their starting quarterback for next season, let alone as the guy long-term. They could just move on from Brissett this offseason and outright replace him, or they have plenty of cap space to add some notable competition and not necessarily hamper their ability to make further additions in free agency.
It’s not that bold to predict Rivers will sign with the Colts, with the ties he has to the coaching staff there. But Gordon has added some credence to the idea, with or without the possibility of inside information as a former teammate.