INDIANAPOLIS (AP) When Philip Rivers first started tossing footballs as a high-school ball boy, he heaved them any way he could. The throwing motion stuck and success soon followed.
Rivers used that strange, shot put-like style to land a college scholarship, become a first-round draft pick and eventually string together one of the greatest 17-year careers in NFL history. On Wednesday, the 39-year-old Indianapolis Colts quarterback announced his retirement.
“Every year, Jan. 20 is a special and emotional day,” Rivers said in a statement posted on the team’s website. “It is St. Sebastian’s Feast day, the day I played in the AFC championship without an ACL, and now the day that after 17 seasons, I’m announcing my retirement from the National Football League. Thank you God for allowing me to live out my childhood dream of playing quarterback in the NFL. I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers announced that he will retire after 17 seasons in the NFL. The 39-year-old quarterback completed 68% of his throws for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 16 starts this season,
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) When Philip Rivers first started tossing footballs as a high-school ball boy, he heaved them any way he could. The throwing motion stuck and success soon followed. Rivers used that strange, shot put-like style to land a college scholarship, become a first-round draft pick and eventually string together one of the greatest 17-year careers in NFL.
Report: Longtime Chargers, Current Colts QB Philip Rivers Retiring from the NFL
The longtime Chargers quarterback was set to become a free agent after finishing a 1-year, $25 million debut deal with the Colts. He was presumably going to take the opportunity to contemplate continuing his playing career this early offseason having already had a post-playing career job lined up
“It’s just time,”
Rivers said via the Union-Tribune late Tuesday night from his home in Indianapolis. “It’s just right.”
“I can sit here and say, ‘I can still throw it. I love to play,’ ” Rivers said. “But that’s always going to be there. I’m excited to go coach high school football.”
The time has come, dadgummit.
The man whose good-natured hollering was as renowned as his highly unorthodox and highly effective throws is hanging up his helmet to put on a different hat.
Philip Rivers, who came to San Diego in a draft-day trade in 2004 and played quarterback for the Chargers all but his final season in the NFL, announced his retirement Wednesday.
“It’s just time,” Rivers told the Union-Tribune late Tuesday night from his home in Indianapolis, where earlier this month he completed his only season with the Colts. “It’s just right.”
Rivers, who wore No. 17 throughout his 17 seasons, played in 244 regular season games, starting the final 240 of those without interruption. That streak is the second longest ever by an NFL quarterback behind Brett Favre’s 297.