A stunning “what if” from recent NFL history resurfaced on Monday night, and it involves one of the most unexpected almost-comebacks the league has seen.
Philip Rivers Almost Made NFL Comeback With 49ers
According to a report from Monday Night Football sideline reporter Lisa Salters, longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers was prepared to come out of retirement during the 2023 postseason to quarterback the San Francisco 49ers. And the scenario nearly became reality on the sport’s biggest stage.
It’s been over 5 years since Philip Rivers last played on MNF 👀
Can he lead the Colts to a home victory vs. the 49ers? 👏 pic.twitter.com/x0dKZ4hDKC
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 23, 2025
The revelation dates back to the 2022 season, when San Francisco’s quarterback room was thrown into chaos. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury late in the year, leaving the 49ers with seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy as their only viable option under center. At the time, Purdy was an unproven prospect thrust into a Super Bowl contender’s lineup with virtually no margin for error.
That’s when head coach Kyle Shanahan began exploring contingency plans. According to Salters, Shanahan personally reached out to Rivers, who had been retired since the end of the 2020 season, and told him to start getting ready in case San Francisco needed him.
As it turned out, Purdy thrived. The rookie won seven consecutive games as a starter, guiding the 49ers on a deep playoff run with a poised, efficient style that quickly endeared him to teammates and fans alike. His emergence made the idea of Rivers stepping in seem increasingly unnecessary.
Shanahan Was Ready To Call Rivers If 49ers Made Super Bowl 57
That changed abruptly in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Purdy suffered a severe elbow injury early in the contest, leaving San Francisco unable to throw the football effectively for most of the game. The Eagles capitalized, and the 49ers’ season ended in frustration.
Here’s where the story takes its most fascinating turn. Had San Francisco managed to win that NFC Championship Game, Rivers would have been the emergency plan to start Super Bowl 57. With Purdy injured and no other viable quarterback options, the 49ers were prepared to call Rivers to lead them in the Super Bowl, despite him not having played an NFL snap in more than two years.
Ultimately, Brock Purdy’s improbable run rewrote the 49ers’ story and reshaped the franchise’s future. But thanks to this latest revelation, fans are left wondering how NFL history might look today had one game broken differently.
