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Report: Philip Rivers considered retiring last season

By Charles Rahrig V

Jan 3, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to a report, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers considered retirement last season.

No one is quite sure whether or not the San Diego Chargers will be moving to Los Angeles yet, but wherever they end up, they will have Philip Rivers as their quarterback. The Chargers signed Rivers to a large extension last year and they made sure that he would finish out his career as a member of the Chargers.

That almost didn’t happen, however. According to The San Diego Union Tribune, Rivers contemplated retiring last season and calling it quits for good.

"“Physically, last year, I didn’t know if I was going to play,” Rivers said on Jan. 3, about an hour after the Chargers’ season-finale loss in Denver. “I mean really, physically, I was like, ‘I may not even play football anymore.’ This year, physically, I’m great. Emotionally, it’s been rough, but I’m excited — I really am excited about who the new core is going to be. I’m excited to be part of that group. I’m waiting for it, kind of letting them take it. … It’s not going to be the buddies I came with; they’re going to be gone."

Ironically enough, the Chargers are coming off a rough season that has them picking toward the top of the NFL Draft. Yet Rivers is excited about the future and is excited to play football again. For many players getting up there in age, the thoughts of retirement do begin to roll in and so do the questions of when to hang it up for good.

Rivers enjoyed one of this best seasons this year, as he was able to pass the ball for plenty of yards and begin to create chemistry with some of his young receivers. While the Chargers have a lot of work to do going forward, having a quarterback like Rivers is important to keeping the team together and gelling.

He’s got plenty of game left and he will be the man leading the ship no matter where the franchise ends up playing next. It’s obvious after 2014, that he was ready to call it a career, but it became reinvigorated this season and he began having fun again.

When he’s having fun, he’s putting up great numbers and is a fun quarterback to watch.

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