Philip Rivers, Fatherhood, and the Witness Our Culture Still Needs
In a time when Christian family life is often ridiculed, mocked, or dismissed as outdated, men like Rivers stand as reminders that God’s design for marriage and family is still good.
The NFL rumor mill has been loud lately buzzing with talk that 44-year-old Philip Rivers might return to the Indianapolis Colts. Whether or not he takes another snap, something else has been louder in the comment sections and social media reaction: the jokes and digs about Rivers having ten children with one wife.
And frankly, that says more about our culture than it does about Philip Rivers.
We live in a time when athletes make headlines for all the wrong reasons—multiple children with multiple partners, families fractured by fame, and a deep cultural confusion about marriage, masculinity, and responsibility. Yet when a man is faithful to one woman, honors his vows, raises a large family, and lives out his values openly… he becomes the punchline.
That should grieve us.
A Christian Vision of Manhood
Philip Rivers is a Roman Catholic, and while we Lutherans would have some theological differences, we can still rejoice when any Christian man publicly embodies virtues that Scripture calls good—faithfulness, responsibility, courage, and openness to the gift of life.
From the very beginning, God spoke a blessing over His creation:
“Be fruitful and multiply.” — Genesis 1:27–28
Children are not an inconvenience; they are not lifestyle accessories; they are not burdens. They are gifts. They are heritage. They are blessings.
Psalm 127 says it plainly:
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord… Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.”
Our culture laughs at large families because it idolizes comfort and convenience. It praises personal fulfillment but forgets that real joy comes through self-giving love. A husband who loves his wife, a father who raises his children, a man who builds a household rooted in faith—this is not something to mock. It is something to admire.
The Blessing of Daily Bread
It is no small thing that Philip Rivers—through discipline, work ethic, commitment, and actual sacrifice—has been able to provide for his family. Large families require daily bread, and God has provided it through his vocation as a football player and now as a coach.
Whatever one thinks about football, this example should give the world pause: here is a man in professional sports who has managed fame, wealth, and pressure while still prioritizing faith, marriage, and fatherhood. Imagine how different our society would look if more men—athletes or otherwise—followed that pattern.
And if he truly does return to the NFL at 44, after five years away? That determination, too, says something about his character.
Honestly, because of the example he has been, I’m half tempted to buy a Rivers Colts jersey.
Why This Matters
In a time when Christian family life is often ridiculed, mocked, or dismissed as outdated, men like Rivers stand as reminders that God’s design for marriage and family is still good. Still beautiful. Still worth living.
We should not be ashamed when Christians whether Lutheran, Catholic, or otherwise show the world what faithful fatherhood looks like. We should rejoice.
May God raise up more men who love their wives, welcome children as blessings, and live out their vocations with humility and strength.
And may we, as Christians, be willing to publicly honor the good when we see it—even if social media doesn’t understand.