Los Angeles Chargers And Philip Rivers Part Ways As QB Enters Free Agency
Philip Rivers is joining the ranks of the NFL‘s free agents.
The 38-year-old star quarterback is leaving the Los Angeles Chargers after 16 years, in a move that was mutually decided by both parties, per an official statement published on the NFL‘s website Monday morning.
After reevaluating the 2019 season and determining what the player and the team wanted from the future, General Manager Tom Telesco said that they both decided to part ways.
The announcement follows weeks of rumors and speculation that Rivers would be moving his family from Southern California to Florida and leaving the Chargers, The Inquisitr previously reported.
“I think Philip’s tremendous perspective, both when it comes to football and when it comes to life, helped lend clarity to a very complex situation,” Telesco said.
Overall, Los Angeles’ 5-11 record in 2019 highlighted the team’s struggles this past year. Rivers had one of his worst seasons in over a decade, throwing the most interceptions (20) and passing for the fewest touchdowns (23) since 2007.
Rivers was drafted by the New York Giants as the fourth pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, as noted on NFL.com. He was, however, immediately shipped to the Chargers — who were then based in San Diego — as part of a predetermined agreement.
“I am very grateful to the Spanos family and the Chargers organization for the last 16 years,” Rivers said.
“I’m not sure what the future holds, but my family and I look forward to seeing what God has planned for us next,” the quarterback added.
Despite never making it to the Super Bowl, Rivers still has a lot of accomplishments under his belt.
Rivers sits within the Top 10 on several of the NFL’s all-time lists, ranking No. 6 on the all-time touchdown passes list with 397 thrown in 235 games with the Chargers. Some of his career highlights also include being named the team’s Most Valuable Player seven times, holding two Chargers Offensive Player of the Year awards, and cementing himself this past season as one of few players to surpass 58,000 career passing yards — alongside Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Dan Marino.
“There’s only one Philip Rivers, and we’ve been fortunate to call him our QB1 for the better part of two decades,” said Chargers owner Dean Spanos.
Rivers’ departure leaves many questions looming for the Chargers organization this coming draft period, which will begin on Thursday, April 23 and end on Saturday, April 25.
