Chargers Legend Philip Rivers Announces Retirement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 9:31 AM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers arguably have the most talented collection of quarterbacks to never win a championship. It began with Dan Fouts in the 1970s and 80s, then Drew Brees and Philip Rivers continued the legacy in the early 2000s, and now Justin Herbert appears to be headed on the same trajectory.

The closest the Chargers ever got to breaking through was in 2007 when they lost in the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots. Rivers famously played through a partially torn ACL and though he would never go on to win a championship, the game was a career defining moment for him.

The star quarterback finished his career in the top 10 in all-time passing yards, passing touchdowns, and quarterback wins. When it’s all said and done, Rivers might go down as the greatest quarterback to never even appear in a Super Bowl.

After a painful 2019 season that saw the Chargers legend throw for just 23 touchdowns to 20 interceptions, the sides decided it was best to split and he joined the Indianapolis Colts.

He did have an impressive run including a playoff appearance, but the team would fall short in their opening playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, which would be the last game Rivers ever played.

Surprisingly enough, he remained an active player for years, but just yesterday he finally announced his retirement from the NFL. He announced it through a video where he also revealed he’d be signing with the Chargers to officially retire as a bolt.