Philip Rivers has been out of the NFL for several years since he last took to the field. Now, the Los Angeles Chargers legend has officially ended his career.

His last NFL game was more than four and a half years ago. But it is only now that Philip Rivers is officially closing the chapter. The 43-year-old announced in a video released by the Los Angeles Chargers: “I am Philip Rivers, quarterback, and I am ending my career as a Charger.”

In 2004, he joined the franchise, then based in San Diego, as the fourth draft pick, stayed for 16 years, and then added another year with the Indianapolis Colts. In their playoff defeat against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round of the 2020 season, the now father of ten took to the field for the last time and threw his last two touchdown passes.

In total, he played in 256 regular season and playoff games, throwing 437 touchdown passes and 219 interceptions, and running into the end zone four times. In the 2007 season, the run only ended in the AFC Championship Game against the then-undefeated New England Patriots.

According to franchise records, Rivers holds more than 30 Chargers records and started 224 consecutive games as starting quarterback. Some of his best stats: 59,271 passing yards, 397 touchdowns, 4,908 completions, and 7,591 passes.

Rivers ends NFL career: “Desire to retire as a Charger”

Rivers now explains: “It has been my desire for the past few years to retire as a Charger. It was just a matter of timing.” Looking back, he feels nothing but gratitude: “Just grateful. Grateful for my time as a Charger.”

Rivers emphasized that he has spent most of his adult life with the Chargers. He is “extremely grateful for that, more than anything else.”

John Spanos, president of football operations for the Chargers, revealed that there had been talks about his official retirement for several years. “He announced at the time that he wanted to retire as a Charger, and I told him, of course, that we would be happy for him to do so when he was ready,” said the official, who took office in 2015.

He added: “I think we both knew for several years that this day would come, but the most important thing I expressed to Philip was that I hoped the timing would be right for him. He had to be ready to close that door.”

philip rivers forever. pic.twitter.com/bgw5vMb2Sz

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 21, 2025

Rivers calls it quits: “We did damn good.”

Rivers, who lives back in his home state of Alabama and is head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, was also surprised on his last big NFL day by his former O-linemen, who accompanied the Chargers team filming the announcement with him.

“When I think about what I miss most, it’s the people. My teammates… on the field, on the practice field,” Rivers looks back: “You miss those moments and the interaction with the people. There were so many highlights and great Sundays at Qualcomm Stadium and on the road… so many game moments.”

He sums up his NFL career: “Our victories were fantastic. But the moments when we grew, the experiences we had with our teammates… we still did damn well.”

They had “fought and worked together. Those times were really challenging, but damn, we got to come to work every day and play in the National Football League.” In his case, for 17 years. Who can say that about themselves? Only the very best.