Quarterback Philip Rivers retired from the NFL in 2021.
Four years later, he's taken the step of officially doing it as a member of the Chargers.
The team announced Monday that Rivers was retiring with the team he spent 16 years playing under center for, putting a second bow on top of stellar career.
"I'm thankful for those 16 years and for [them] entrusting me to be their quarterback," Rivers said in a video that accompanied the retirement announcement. "I certainly never took it for granted. I never took it for granted getting to suit up and lead the Chargers for, shoot, 240-something games in a row."
Rivers racked up eight Pro Bowl selections and a Comeback Player of the Year award during his storied Chargers tenure. He's the franchise's all-time leader in wins (123), passing yards (59,271), passing touchdowns (397), fourth-quarter comebacks (27) and game-winning drives (32).
He led the team to six playoff berths and four seasons with double-digit victories, coming as close as a 2007 AFC Championship Game appearance away from reaching the Super Bowl but never proving able to break through.
Rivers nonetheless provided the Chargers with their identity for a decade and a half, mixing gutsy quarterback play with endless -- but expletive-free -- trash talk. He remained the face of the franchise as it moved from San Diego to Los Angeles ahead of the 2017 season, and quarterbacked the Chargers for three more seasons in their new home before he and the team mutually agreed he would explore free agency.
That exploration led him to the Indianapolis Colts, for whom he played one year before hanging up the cleats.
After rejoining the Bolts to ceremonially retire in a more fitting manner, Rivers steps away having come full circle.
