With that news, the great Philip Rivers, well, maybe not going into the sunset, has officially retired. As a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, he leaves behind an indelible mark on the NFL. In a touching social media post, Rivers reflected on his storied career. From there, he thanked the Rivers family profusely for all of the things he learned while in those Chargers’ colors. He pulled no punches in declaring that he is “retiring a Charger.” This well-deserved move cements his legacy with the team he terrorized for 16 phenomenal seasons.
Rivers began his NFL career in San Diego. He spent his first two seasons behind Drew Brees on the depth chart. When Brees left for the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Rivers stepped into the starting quarterback position. His time with the Chargers made him one of the most prolific passers in NFL history.
Rivers had a great career, throwing for a mind-boggling 63,440 yards. This milestone now puts him sixth on the all-time list, behind just gridiron greats Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger. He is sixth on NFL’s all-time list with 421 TD passes. Despite his impressive statistics, Rivers remains second among quarterbacks without a Super Bowl ring and sits tenth overall for all players.
Over the 15-year span as a starting quarterback, Rivers’ consistent durability was evident, never missing a game in his 252 career games started (including playoffs). His resilience was on display during the 2007 AFC Championship Game. He fought through a tear ACL, showing phenomenal toughness and commitment to the game.
Rivers’ on-field contributions to the Chargers are hard to overstate as he currently sits atop every major passing category in team history. On the field, he led his teams to an amazing 137 career victories. His competitive drive consistently won over fans and teammates alike. Reflecting on his journey, Rivers stated, “There are some clips that I look at and just shake my head, and then some. I go, dang. That was a lot of fun.”
As Rivers prepares for retirement, he departs with a legacy that is larger than the numbers. Unfortunately, his first name was magical, because his leadership and inspired play have all earned him respect and love all across the league. “I think gratitude really is the first thing that comes to mind,” he expressed in his farewell message.
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