The Indianapolis Colts sparked league-wide conversation this week after confirming they had contacted 44-year-old Philip Rivers for a workout.
According to NBC Sports, Rivers hasn’t taken an NFL snap since the 2020 season and had been fully retired, yet he still received an invitation to return. Cam Newton, who is eight years younger and has not retired, made it clear he noticed the contrast.
On the December 10 episode of his 4th & 1 podcast, Newton said the Rivers news immediately raised questions for him. Asked whether he would take a workout with the Colts if they called, he responded without hesitation: “Yeah.” Moments later, he explained why the situation struck a nerve.
“For 44 years old, coming out of retirement…It’s almost like a slap in my face,” Newton said on the show.
He emphasized that despite stepping away from the field since 2021, he has deliberately kept the door open on a return and has never declared his career over. “I did not and will not [retire] because of an opportunity like this,” he added.
Newton then addressed the broader perception that he may appear unavailable because of his media work or public presence. He challenged that idea directly: “People be holding people to a standard that they ain’t even holding everybody else to.”
In contrast, he noted, Rivers had not been signaling any intention to play again. “So did Phillip,” he said, pointing out that neither of them had been campaigning for a roster spot.
The former MVP also pushed back on the notion that any team might shy away from him because of external attention or personality.
“They folks don’t want a circus,” he acknowledged, before adding that he still brings belief and competitive legitimacy wherever he goes. “Wherever you have been, everybody believe that you got a chance to win,” his co-host told him during the discussion—sentiments Newton did not dispute.
Newton made it clear that Indianapolis’ decision had nothing to do with his readiness. “Call my boy, man. Reach out to us. We taking workouts… we taking chances,” he said, later reiterating that he remains fully open to an NFL return.
He closed the segment with a pointed message about his expectations: “I want to be who really want me. If you don’t want me, don’t send for me.”