Philip Rivers

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

After spending his first two seasons as a backup, Rivers served as the Chargers' starting quarterback from 2006 to 2019. During his tenure, Rivers received eight Pro Bowl selections while leading the team to six postseason appearances and four division titles. He also helped the franchise win their first playoff game since 1994 and reach the AFC Championship Game during the 2007 season. Rivers joined the Colts in 2020, making a seventh playoff appearance before retiring after the season.

In Their Own Story

The trade for Philip Rivers defined a pivotal shift in the franchise's history. Once settled as the starter in 2006, Rivers led the Chargers to their best regular-season record ever at 14–2. The team won the AFC West but was eliminated by the Patriots in the Divisional Round. He continued to lead the division-winning squads in 2007 and 2008 under Norv Turner, with the 2007 season culminating in an AFC Championship appearance. By 2013, Rivers guided a 9–7 team to the playoffs as a third-place finisher, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round before losing to the Denver Broncos.

Reader's Guide

Rivers ranks sixth all-time in passing yards and touchdowns, both of which are the highest among quarterbacks without Super Bowl appearances. He is also second all-time in consecutive regular season starts by a quarterback, having started every regular season game between 2006 and 2020. Rivers is considered among the greatest quarterbacks to have never played in a Super Bowl.

Did You Know?

• Rivers was born in Decatur, Alabama, where his father, Steve, was the head coach of Decatur High's football team and his mother, Joan, was a teacher.
• As part of a fifth-grade project, he pasted his face over that of a Minnesota Vikings player on a Sports Illustrated cover.
• He has worn the number 17 jersey since the ninth grade, in honor of his father, who wore the same number in high school.
• Rivers played college football at North Carolina State University, where he started 51 straight games and set numerous ACC passing records.
• He was selected fourth overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the New York Giants, then traded to the San Diego Chargers in a prearranged swap for Eli Manning.