Philip Rivers formally retired from the NFL final month, ending hypothesis a few potential comeback that had lingered for years.
The previous Los Angeles Chargers quarterback spent 16 of his 17 skilled seasons with that franchise, and his final NFL sport got here in the course of the 2020 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
The timing of his retirement announcement caught many off guard, and Rivers not too long ago defined his delay in making the choice public.
“The legendary Philip Rivers mentioned he didn’t retire till earlier this month as a result of he had been receiving curiosity from groups, together with the [New Orleans] Saints in 2021 and the [San Francisco] 49ers in 2022,” Dov Kleiman wrote on X.
Wow: The legendary Philip Rivers mentioned he did not retire till earlier this month as a result of he had been receiving curiosity from groups, together with the Saints in 2021 and the 49ers in 2022.
I’m wondering why he did not signal with San Francisco…
(through @dpshow) pic.twitter.com/KKPWmtgqvS
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 1, 2025
The Saints reached out to Rivers when accidents and COVID-19 created the necessity for a quarterback.
New Orleans was so determined that it contacted each Rivers and Drew Brees about potential comebacks.
The 49ers discovered themselves in an analogous state of affairs the next yr. Trey Lance suffered a season-ending damage in Week 2, then Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot in Week 13.
San Francisco thought of bringing Rivers aboard, however Brock Purdy’s emergence eradicated that want.
With Purdy and Josh Johnson, the 49ers reached the NFC Championship Sport, the place each quarterbacks suffered accidents towards the Philadelphia Eagles.
Had San Francisco in some way superior, Rivers may need discovered himself beginning in Tremendous Bowl LVII.
Rivers revealed that discussions with each franchises by no means progressed considerably.
He had little curiosity in becoming a member of a staff midseason and probably figuring out its playoff destiny after arriving so late within the marketing campaign.
The eight-time Professional Bowler ranks sixth in NFL historical past with 63,440 passing yards and 421 landing passes.
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