5 teams Philip Rivers could end up playing for in 2020

1. Los Angeles Chargers

Let’s be honest, it’s practically impossible to imagine Rivers in anything other than a Chargers’ uniform. If he doesn’t get a new deal from only team he has ever played for, in the near-term or quickly when the new league year starts in March, Rivers seems more likely to retire than try to land elsewhere. Perhaps he retires right after the season, and makes any talks about a new deal with the Chargers or landing on another team a moot point.

The Chargers are becoming a tenant in the Rams’ new stadium next season. They are clearly behind their crosstown rivals in the Los Angeles NFL picture, and losing someone with the face of franchise power like Rivers won’t help. Years of never using a fairly high draft pick on a quarterback is set to hit general manager Tom Telesco right in the face as Rivers nears what could be a very bitter end.

Rivers has made Southern California his home, and heading elsewhere to finish his career may simply not be anywhere on his radar. The Chargers should want to keep him, for at least one more year while they figure out who may be his successor.

Next year it might be the Chargers or nowhere for Rivers. But there will be other teams interested if they don’t bring him back, and his competitive juices practically dictate he will play somewhere in 2020.