49ers rumors: Philip Rivers wanted to unretire and join San Francisco?

The 49ers’ quarterback situation in 2023 is very much an unknown, but Philip Rivers wasn’t exactly a name that got thrown out a lot. Until now.

The phrase, “San Francisco 49ers quarterback Philip Rivers,” doesn’t quite sound right.

Perhaps if it was for the Los Angeles Chargers or even the Indianapolis Colts, but Rivers donning the red and gold isn’t something most Niners fans would think about.

However, according to the latest rumor mill, there was a possibility of it happening.

Well, sort of. Maybe. That’s how offseason NFL rumors go, right?

Rivers, who recently turned 41 years old, last played for Indy in his lone season there in 2020. That followed a 16-year tenure with the Bolts, and now he’s sitting on the border of being a possible Pro Football Hall of Famer in the not-so-distant future.

Only if he’s actually done playing, though.

Rich Eisen reports Philip Rivers contacted 49ers, other teams about returning to NFL

With the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine now complete, Rich Eisen of The Rich Eisen Show shared some notable rumors from the NFL Draft event that’s chock full of rumors.

One of the things he heard at the combine?

Rivers reached out to San Francisco about playing there last season. Eisen starts off with this rumor right out of the gate, saying he corroborated it with multiple sources:

Now, Eisen didn’t say anything about Rivers again wanting to join the 49ers in 2023. However, given the Niners’ quarterbacking situation is only murkier with Brock Purdy out for at least six months in the wake of scheduled elbow surgery, one might think Rivers would take any possible interest in the Bay Area awfully seriously.

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The other team Rivers reportedly reached out to was the Miami Dolphins.

At any rate, San Francisco would also have to be mutually interested, and it doesn’t seem likely it’d be on the hunt for a 41-year-old signal-caller who has now been out of the league for the last two seasons.

The Chargers probably won’t call either, in case anyone was wondering.