Chargers Quarterback Doesn’t Plan On Retiring
With only one game left in the regular season, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who is in the final year of his contract and 16th season in the league, can’t seem to avoid questions about his future.
After the team’s loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Rivers was once again asked about his plans after the season ends and told reporters he plans to continue playing.
“I’m capable enough physically and mentally, there’s no question,” Rivers said after the game. “Yes, I do want to play football. I do, and that’s how I feel deep down as I stand here.”
Rivers added that he will talk it over with his family and noted that the Chargers quarterback front office has the final say.
“There’s a lot of factors,” Rivers said. “There’s a personal side and family side to mine. I’m going to have a daughter in college as well, too. So time is ticking, and I’ve got a sixth-grade son that I’ve got to get ready to coach at some point, so there’s all kinds of factors.”
“But I know I can still do it, and I know I can still do it at a high enough level for us to win. I have not done it well enough this year, but I still do love to play, and love to lead these guys and this team.
L.A. Chargers Quarterback Hunt On?
It’s been an array of things that have compounded, to keep us from winning enough games to advance into the tournament.”
Even though he has thrown 24 interceptions this season, Rivers believes he still has all the physical tools to be a starting quarterback.
“It’s probably human nature when you’re 38 and you throw some interceptions in games and they don’t go the way you want them to, that it can become, and that’s what people say: ‘You can’t make the throw you used to make’ or ‘You can’t do this’ — arm strength and all of that,” Rivers said.
“And just none of that is true. I’ve made some throws this year that have been as good as throws that I’ve made in any years of my career, but I’m not here to sell that. So physically and what I’m able to do as the Chargers quarterback is just what I was able to do last year when we were rolling and having one of our best years. Even in some of these games the last few weeks, we’ve had some really good plays offensively.”