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Kris Rhim
LOS ANGELES — Eight-time Professional Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers introduced Monday he’s retiring from the NFL as a Charger in an emotional video posted by the workforce to social media.
Rivers has been retired since his remaining season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 however made clear in Monday’s announcement: “I am retiring a Charger.”
Rivers, who performed 16 seasons with the Chargers, holds workforce information in each main class. He received 137 profession video games — No. 2 amongst quarterbacks with no Tremendous Bowl ring and tenth all time.
“I feel gratitude actually is the very first thing that involves thoughts,” Rivers stated within the video. “… What I miss and what I am most appreciative and grateful for are these relationships.”
philip rivers without end. pic.twitter.com/bgw5vMb2Sz
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 21, 2025
A Tremendous Bowl look is probably the lone omission on Rivers’ résumé. He ranks sixth in NFL historical past with 63,440 passing yards, behind solely Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger. He’s additionally sixth with 421 landing passes — behind solely Brady, Brees, Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Favre.
Past his play, Rivers grew well-known for his trash-talking, significantly how he did it: with out utilizing profanity.
“There are some clips that I take a look at and simply shake my head, after which some. I’m going, dang. That was loads of enjoyable,” Rivers stated. “Yeah. Is there an edginess to it? Are you making an attempt to get underneath the pores and skin of the opponent? After all. A few of it’s simply loads of enjoyable. Once more, it is within the yard.”
Rivers was additionally identified for his toughness, most notably obvious within the 2007 AFC Championship Recreation, when he performed by means of a torn ACL in a 21-12 loss to the New England Patriots.
“It’s totally significant for us due to how essential of a participant he has been — and nonetheless is — for this franchise and all that he completed whereas he was right here,” workforce president John Spanos instructed Chargers.com. “It is about all he did for the workforce, each on and off the sector, how he represented himself, how he competed, the drive he needed to succeed and the success that we had when he was right here.”
The Chargers acquired Rivers in a 2004 draft-day commerce that despatched the highest decide, Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Manning went on to win two Tremendous Bowls with the Giants and retired after the 2019 season.
Rivers spent his first two years in San Diego backing up Brees earlier than taking on because the starter when Brees left in free company to affix the New Orleans Saints. Over the subsequent 15 years, Rivers by no means missed one other sport, beginning all 252, together with the playoffs.
“Grateful for these 16 years, entrusting me to be the quarterback and definitely by no means took it as a right,” Rivers stated.
