Friday, March 29, 2024

Why did Philip Rivers retire? Ex-Chargers, Colts quarterback calls for resign after long NFL career

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A Rivers has traveled the NFL deeply for almost two decades, and now he’s short.

Longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers announced his retirement on Wednesday for Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune after a long career of 17 years, including 16 with the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers.

Rivers’ 240 straight starts are the second longest streak in NFL history, behind only Brett Favre, and sadly his career ends on a bitter note, losing the wild card game to the Bills. Rivers retires without Lombardi trophies to his name, and only five playoff wins.

Now the golden jacket debate begins: while Rivers lacks a championship ring, he retires as one of the most prolific passers-by of his time, as one of the “Big Three” quarterbacks caught in 2004, with Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

Rivers’ decision to walk away was pretty straightforward.

MORE: What should the Colts do in QB after Philip Rivers?

Why is Philip Rivers retiring?

Rivers, who turned 39 in December, told Acee that “it was just the moment” for him to step away from the game and that he was totally “at peace with the decision”. After 17 years of career, who could blame him?

In the quarterback’s own words, “the time has come” – but there is another factor that pushed him to retire.

Rivers won’t be out of work for long as he will take a job as the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in his native Alabama, something he seems very excited to do.

“What helped me make this (decision) was the growing desire to coach football in high school,” Rivers said. “That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. It grows. I look forward.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Colts expected Rivers to announce his retirement. It was Rivers’ only season with Indianapolis, spending the first 16 seasons of his career with the Chargers.

Rivers, who was selected No.4 overall by the New York Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft, was sent to San Diego the same night in exchange for overall No. 1 pick Eli Manning, along with a future first round pick. Manning retired after the 2019 season.

Rivers’ 421 passing touchdowns are fifth all-time and have plenty of flashy numbers to go with them, including over 63,000 passing yards, which also rank fifth all-time.

Sadly, playoff success never really came for Rivers, winning just five playoff games in his career, visiting the AFC championship game just once, in 2007.

With Rivers moving away from the game, he’s got plenty of time to spend with her nine children.



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