A San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers legend, Rivers was selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the New York Giants before being traded to the Bolts in a trade that also sent Eli Manning from the Chargers to Big Blue.
From 2004 to 2019, Rivers was with the Chargers, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and the 2013 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He signed with the Colts in the spring of 2020 as one of several quarterbacks the club looked at following the spectacular retirement of Andrew Luck. Now comes Rivers’ stunning retirement.
In 17 seasons, Rivers played in 244 games (240 starts), completing 5,277 of 8,134 passes (64.9%) for 63,440 yards (seventh in NFL history), 421 touchdowns (sixth in NFL history) and 209 interceptions.
Rivers, who is known for his unorthodox, almost lateral arm movement and tendency to talk trash without cursing, should at least inject some excitement into the Colts QB room.
Rivers exited 2020 with a stellar showing, finishing 11-5 with the Colts, with 4,169 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 97.0 passer rating. Since then, however, he has become a grandfather and coached high school football, leading the St. Michael Catholic (Alabama) to a 13-1 record last season and was 44-16 from 2021 to 2025.
On Sunday, he’ll strap on the chin strap for one more run and watch the stiff arm of Father Time.
We’re about to see what Rivers and the Colts have left in the tank in 2025.