By Nathan Russell
After 17 years in the National Football League, Indianapolis Colts and former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has retired from American football.
Rivers came along during a period of time when we have been blessed with so many phenomenal talents in his position that he can sometimes be lost in the shuffle, which he would never have been in any other era of football.
While he never reached the heights of lifting the Lombardi Trophy, Rivers impact on the sport should not be underestimated, as he was an eight time Pro Bowler who sits fifth in the all time rankings of both the most passing yards ever and the most passing touchdowns ever.
Rivers was admired throughout the league for his immense heart, grit and work ethic as a player, which was illustrated when he made 252 consecutive starts without missing a game, a record that is only beaten by the great Brett Favre.
Philip Rivers’ is officially retiring…
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) January 20, 2021
His career stats:
• 5,277 for 8,134 (64.9%)
• 63,440 passing yards
• 424 total TDs – 209 INTs
• 95.2 passer rating
• 29 4QC, 35 GWD
• 8x pro bowler
• 2013 CPOY#Chargers #Colts pic.twitter.com/5AtTuHiKTa
Today was a fitting day for Rivers to make this announcement, with it being 13 years to the day since he played in an AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots just six days after undergoing surgery on his ruptured right ACL
After a stellar 16-year tenure in Los Angeles with the Chargers Rivers moved to Indianapolis and head up the Colts for the 2020 season.
The quarterback once again proved his immense worth, wealth of experience and prestige by leading the Colts to the play-offs where they were ultimately eliminated by Super Bowl contenders the Buffalo Bills.
After all these years in the league, Rivers will now become the head football coach at St Michael Catholic High School in his home state of Alabama.
In his statement, the NFL legend said, “I can sit here and say, ‘I can still throw it, I love to play,’ but that’s always going to be there.
“I’m excited to go coach high school football.”
After nearly two decades in the National Football League, Philip Rivers has left an incredible legacy and will indisputably go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever throw a football.
