Philip Rivers: A True Legend

NFL Quarterback Philip Rivers announced his retirement on January 20^th, 2021.  January 20^th is the Catholic St. Sebastian’s Feast Day which is a special day for Rivers, not only religiously, but his career as well.  In the AFC Championship game on January 20, 2008, he played with a torn ACL, and even though they lost, did you catch where I said a TORN ACL? That is just the tip of the iceberg of the true integrity, grit, and toughness both physically and mentally that Rivers has given us for 17 seasons. That toughness was proven every game throughout his 240 regular season consecutive career starts including 12 playoff games for a total of 252, which is the 2nd longest streak in the NFL behind Brett Farve.

The Beginning and the End

Rivers was drafted 4^th by the New York Giants in 2004 and traded that day to the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning.  For the first two years as a Charger, he backed up Drew Brees.  Then Rivers became the starter in 2006 and played there until 2020.  He was a Charger for 16 seasons.  His final 17^th season in the NFL was as the Indianapolis Colts starting QB.  Rivers never played in a Super Bowl but did advance to the postseason seven times, advanced to the divisional round four times and one AFC title game.    Rivers also was selected eight times to the Pro-Bowl.  What an incredible list of accomplishments for the future Hall of Famer.  Rivers ranks 5^th in passing at 63,440 yards and is 5^th in touchdowns passes at 421.  His last season with the Chargers produced 4,615 yards, 23 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, and a QB rating of 88.5.  The Chargers parted ways with Rivers and some thought it could be the end, but the Colts signed him a one-year deal that he took all the way to a wild card playoff game versus the Buffalo Bills, that they lost 27-24.  Despite not advancing past the Wild Card game, the regular season was a winning one as Rivers led the Colts to an 11-5 record with 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.  The Colts GM Chris Ballard stated after the retirement news hit the airways that they were looking forward to resigning Rivers to another year, but alas Rivers had other ideas.

The Future

Passionate, resilient, entertaining, and dependable are all some of the words being thrown around the last few days about Rivers.  Those who played with him and against all have the same thoughts, Rivers was not only great on the field but off it as well.  He grew up in Alabama where his father coached high school football for 25 years.  He was raised with football in his blood.  In May 2020 after signing the one-year deal to play with the Colts, Rivers was named “Head Coach in Waiting” for St. Michael’s Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.  Now, Rivers will start on a new path of teaching young men, including two of his sons, how to play the game and how to live as Godly, respectable, and honorable players on and off the field.  He will begin his new career on April 1, 2021, and has a big uphill battle as the program went 2-7 this past season, but if anyone can do it Rivers can.  So, I tip my hat to you, sir.  The NFL will start the 2021 season by missing many key players due to retirement, and Philip Rivers will be one of them.  He was an iconic part of the league for 17 seasons slinging side-arm throws, never yelling a single cuss word, but playing with the heart of a true champion.  Thank you #17, good luck and I can’t wait to hear about the St. Michael’s Cardinals’ future games and championships that they will no doubt win under your guidance!

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