Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021. 10:55 AM
INDIANAPOLIS – Veteran NFL quarterback Philip Rivers has announced his retirement after a season with the Indianapolis Colts.
“Every year, January 20 is special and emotional for me. It’s San Sebastian, the day I played the American Association Championship game without an anterior cruciate ligament, and now the day I announce my retirement after 17 seasons in the NFL, ”said Rivers by means of a press release sent on the Colts website.
Rivers’ decision was announced two weeks after the Colts lost 27-24 to the Buffalo Bills in the NFL playoff game.
Rivers spent 16 seasons with the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers after being acquired on draft day, in a trade that sent first overall pick Eli Manning to the New York Giants in 2004. Manning went on to win two Super Bowls. with the Giants, and he announced his retirement last season.
The 39-year-old veteran has never played in a Super Bowl, one of the few achievements sorely lacking in his otherwise successful track record.
Rivers spent his first two seasons with the Chargers as a reserve quarterback behind Drew Brees, before becoming their starting quarterback following his departure to the free agent market.
Over the next 15 seasons, Rivers never missed a start, making 252 overall – including the NFL playoffs. He even made a start in the American championship game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2007.
He’s won a total of 134 games – he’s second in that regard among quarterbacks who have never won the Super Bowl, and eighth overall.
Only Tom Brady (230), Peyton Manning (186), Ben Roethlisberger (156), Brees (172), Brett Favre (186), John Elway (148) and Dan Marino (147) beat him in this chapter in the regular season.
Rivers also finished his career in fifth place in the number of completed passes (5,277), yards in the air (63,440) and touchdowns (421).
Finally, Rivers has competed in eight career Pro Bowls, and he owns most of the Chargers’ franchise records in the airline categories.
