NFL quarterback Philip Rivers, who for 16 seasons was the face of the San Diego and later Los Angeles Chargers franchise, will officially retire as a member of the team.
Rivers made the announcement in a video posted to social media Monday.
The eight-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback will sign a one-day deal to rejoin the Chargers and officially ride off into the sunset as a franchise legend.
Rivers was drafted No. 4 overall by the New York Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft in one of the most infamous draft-day transactions in history. He was traded by the Giants to San Diego in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning, and future picks that ended up becoming other franchise cornerstones for the Chargers in linebacker Shawne Merriman and kicker Nate Kaeding.
But it was Rivers who rewrote the record books for the Chargers, capturing every notable passing record for the team that once revolutionized the high-powered passing offense.
His 397 touchdowns, 59,271 passing yards and 4,908 completions are tops on the franchise’s all-time records list, and he’s the team’s all-time leader in games played and wins as a quarterback.
In 16 seasons as a member of the Chargers, Rivers led the team to a 134-106 regular season record and six playoff appearances, often playing through significant injuries in the postseason.
Rivers laid roots in San Diego and advocated for the team’s right to remain in the city that became his adopted home. After the team decided to uproot and move to L.A., Rivers continued to live primarily in San Diego, often flying back and forth between the two cities for games.
“What I miss, and what I’m most appreciative and thankful for are those relationships, the things that were behind the scenes,” Rivers said in his retirement announcement. “The days at [San Diego practice facility] Murphy Canyon on the practice field. You miss those moments.”
“I picture riding down that hill in the Qualcomm [Stadium],” a visibly emotional Rivers says in the video. “And you just go like, ‘Man, shoot. They’re fired up today.’ And seeing the flags, and seeing the smoke from the grills going and stuff that just never got old, you know, that never got old.”
He never captured the postseason success of his NFL Draft compatriots in Manning and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who won two Super Bowls each. Yet, he remains a beloved figure for the Chargers franchise, a nightmarish figure for NFC West opponents and a celebrated one-time mercenary for the Indianapolis Colts for whom he played his final games.
He thanked the many offensive linemen over the years that kept him upright and shielded him from injury, including Nick Hardwick, Kris Dielman, Jeremy Clary, Marcus McNeill and Mike Goff, who surprised him in the video.
He also thanked Chargers owner Dean Spanos and his family “for believing in a small town kid and from North Alabama by way of Raleigh and NC State.”
“Having you retire as a Charger, man, it means the world to us as an organization, we’re just so grateful,” said John Spanos, the team’s president of football operations.
Considered a borderline entrant for the NFL Hall of Fame, Rivers approaches his first year of Hall eligibility next season.
Regardless of what happens in the next stage of his NFL story, Rivers said his Chargers tenure and legacy will stay with him forever.
“I never took it for granted,” he said, “getting to suit up and lead the Chargers for, shoot, 240-something games in a row.”