Phillip Rivers, one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, has called it quits after 17 seasons. He spent 16 seasons playing for the Chargers and his final season with the Colts. Rivers never missed a regular-season game as a starting QB from 2006 to 2020. His 240 consecutive regular-season starts is second all-time behind former Packers QB Brett Favre (297). Rivers will end his career holding multiple NFL records, multiple Chargers franchise records, and fifth all-time in passing yards (63,440) and fifth in touchdown passes (421).
After a fantastic career playing for NC State, Rivers was drafted fourth overall by the New York Giants in the 2004 draft and was immediately traded to the San Diego Chargers. Rivers would serve as the backup QB to Drew Brees for his first two seasons with the Chargers before earning the starting job in 2006. During his time with the Chargers, Rivers would compile a list of end-of-the-year accomplishments that included NFL passer rating leader (2008), NFL passing touchdowns leader (2008), NFL passing yards leader (2010), NFL completion percentage leader (2013), and NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2013). Rivers was also an eight-time pro-bowl QB with the Chargers. Phillip Rivers left the Chargers on February 10, 2020, and became a free agent. He signed a one-year contract with the Colts on March 21, 2020.
In his only season with the Colts, he threw 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The Colts finished 11-5 in the regular season and lost in the Wild Card Game against the Bills 27-24. This was the only time Phillip Rivers lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Phillip Rivers now has to wait to see if he will end up in the Hall of Fame. Although he played his career in the shadows of Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Payton Manning, and other elite Quarterbacks, he still put up solid regular season numbers that should be enough to put him in the Hall of Fame despite not making it to a Super Bowl.
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