Colts QB Philip Rivers retires from football
Philip Rivers is leaving the NFL after 17 seasons, with the Indianapolis Colts quarterback heading home to Alabama to coach in high school.
Veteran Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers has announced his retirement after 17 seasons in the NFL.
Rivers spent the first 16 years with the Chargers, initially in San Diego and later in Los Angeles, before joining the Colts for the 2021 season.
During his solitary campaign in Indianapolis, Rivers led the team back to the playoffs with an 11-5 record, throwing for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdown passes.
He finishes his career ranked fifth overall for completed yards at 63,440 and touchdown passes with 421.
Second behind Brett Favre
The 39-year-old played in 244 NFL games in total including 240 straight starts, which remains the second-longest streak for a quarterback behind the legendary Brett Favre (297).
Announcing his decision to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Rivers said: "It's just time. It's just right.
"It [his career] was awesome. A young kid from northern Alabama who grew up wanting to play pro ball. I got to do it.
"This is the first year I felt like the ending was real. We talked about it other years, but we knew we weren't doing it. This year felt different. It just seemed right."
Set for new chapter
Rivers is now set to embark on a new chapter in his life in Alabama, where he is to become the head football coach at St. Michael High in Fairhope.
"I can sit here and say, 'I can still throw it. I love to play.' But that's always going to be there. I'm excited to go coach high school football," he added.
"What has helped me come to this [decision] is the growing desire to coach high school football. That's what I've always wanted to do. It's been growing. I can't wait."