Philip Rivers Retires as Charger After 17 NFL Seasons

Philip Rivers has officially retired as a Charger after signing a one-day contract with the team, marking the end of his 17-season NFL career. Rivers, originally acquired in a draft-day trade with the Giants for Eli Manning, spent 16 seasons with the Chargers and became the franchise leader in passing yards (59,271), touchdowns (397), games played (228), and wins (123). He led the team to six playoff appearances and famously played through a torn ACL in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowler and earned widespread respect for his toughness and leadership on and off the field. His retirement announcement was made in an emotional video posted to the Chargers' social media, where he expressed deep gratitude to the organization, teammates, and fans. Rivers played his final NFL season with the Colts in 2020.