3 stats that perfectly sum up Philip Rivers’ career
Philip Rivers has retired after 17 NFL seasons, and here are three stats that perfectly sum up his career.
There was a coin-flip’s chance it happened, though it seemed the decision would wait a bit longer. But Wednesday morning, Philip Rivers announced his retirement after 17 NFL seasons.
Via ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rivers’ statement was the kind only he could offer.
“Every year, January 20th is a special and emotional day,” Rivers said. “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.
“I appreciate the opposing defenses making it challenging physically and mentally every week . . . I also enjoyed the banter.
“I appreciate the referees for putting up with all my fussing. I think I was right most of the time dadgummit!
“Thanks to the fans in San Diego and around the nation that both cheered and booed.
“Special thanks to my teammates. Without a doubt my favorite part of the game, being a teammate. Thank you for being mine.
“Lastly, thank you to my wife and best friend Tiffany, and our children Halle, Caroline, Grace, Gunner, Sarah, Peter, Rebecca, Clare, and Anna. Could not have don’t it without y’all’s unwavering support.
“As my playing career comes to an end, the next chapter begins.”
Rivers’ next chapter will include being a high school football coach. It may also include stepping into a broadcast booth. In any case, here are three stats that perfectly sum up his career.
These three stats perfectly sum up Philip Rivers’ career
3. 464 sacks
Rivers exits being sacked the 10th-most times in league history, over basically 15 seasons of action. As a proverbial pocket passer right out of the gate, he was never nimble and his throwing motion was never textbook. But he would stand in and throw it under duress, not always smartly mind you (four seasons with at least 18 interceptions), and get back up whenever he went down.
The Colts’ offensive line was pretty much the best Rivers ever played behind this year, yielding the second time in his career he was sacked less than 20 times in a season. But the Chargers seemed to lose a key lineman to injury every year, and Rivers persevered anyway.