Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers has officially returned to the Madden series, with the eight-time Pro Bowler earning a 70 rating in Madden NFL 26 ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.
EA Sports added Rivers, who hasn’t played since January 2021, in a roster update earlier this week. His 70 overall ties him with three backups: the Carolina Panthers’ Andy Dalton, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Gardner Minshew, and the New Orleans Saints’ Spencer Rattler.
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“You’ll reclaim that Madden NFL 12 96 OVR in no time 📈” EA Sports wrote on X/Twitter.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip RiversMykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Rivers’ key ratings are an 83 throw power and an 86 short throw accuracy. His 59 speed is the worst among quarterbacks on active rosters, with the Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins (69) the only other quarterback with a speed below 70.
Shawn Merriman, a former All-Pro linebacker with the Chargers, teased his ex-teammate on social media, writing, “Can’t wait for the update 😂.”
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The Noteworthy Difference Between Philip Rivers’ and Colin Kaepernick’s Returns to Madden
Rivers returns to Madden after a five-year absence, similar to former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s return in a September 2020 update to Madden NFL 21. At the time, Kaepernick remained unsigned after four seasons and was still hoping to rejoin an NFL roster.
However, EA Sports gave Kaepernick, who hadn’t played a game since January 2017, an 81 overall. That placed Kaepernick in the top 15 of Madden’s 111 quarterbacks. Rivers’ 70 overall puts him only above the Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders (69) among starting quarterbacks, discounting those such as the Las Vegas Raiders’ Kenny Pickett (67) and the New York Jets’ Brady Cook (62) who are starting in Week 15 because of injuries.
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“Colin Kaepernick is one of the top free agents in football and a starting-caliber quarterback,” EA wrote at the time.
Rivers completed 68% of his passes for 4,169 yards and a 24-11 TD-INT ratio with the Colts in 2020. Kaepernick recorded a 59.2% completion percentage, 2,241 yards and a 16-4 TD-INT ratio in 12 games (11 starts) for the 49ers in 2016. He also rushed for 468 yards and two touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry.
The historical context is noteworthy, and we’ll see how long Rivers remains a 70 overall. EA Sports issues Madden roster updates every week.
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The FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Colts as +13.5-point road underdogs (-102; bet $100 for a $198.04 payout) against the Seattle Seahawks as of publication.
Related: Football Fans’ Frustrations With Ryan Clark Mounting After Viral Philip Rivers Comments
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.