data-mm-id=”_0snjpl3xi”>Philip Rivers announced his retirement on Monday after 17 NFL seasons. After an incredible career, many were asking whether Rivers was Hall of Fame worthy following his announcement. I'm here to definitively tell you that Rivers is absolutely worthy of enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will make it when he's eligible in 2026.Despite a unique, awkward delivery, average arm strength, and the agility of a dump truck, Rivers made it work. He relied on pinpoint accuracy and a deep knowledge of the game to give himself a leg up. He was one of the smartest players in the NFL, and often mixed in enough trash talk to fill hours of NFL Films archives — though he never swore. He was the ultimate character and his love for the game shined through in everything he did. But what often got lost in the footage of his goofy exuberance was that he was a really good quarterback. In 16 years with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers, Rivers was the galvanizing force driving the team. He made eight Pro Bowls and led from the front his entire career. Then he joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 and guided them to the playoffs while making an entire new fanbase believe in him. Rivers entered the league in the historic 2004 NFL Draft that saw three potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks selected. Eli Manning went No. 1 overall to the Chargers, Rivers went fourth to the New York Giants and Ben Roethlisberger went 11th to Pittsburgh Steelers. Rivers and Manning were then swapped in a trade that netted the Chargers first-, third- and fifth-round picks. Manning and Roethlisberger are considered locks for the Hall of Fame, yet Rivers possesses better career numbers than both of them. The 39-year-old quarterback will retire ranked fifth in career passing yards (63,440), completions (5,277) and passing touchdowns (421). He'll wind up 12th in career passer rating (95.2), 14th in yards passing per game (260.0), 10th in yards per attempt (7.8), and 14th in completion percentage (64.9). He had 12 4,000-yard seasons. Statistically, there's no argument that he's a top 10 quarterback in the history of the league. Rivers has more yards, completions and touchdown passes than Manning and Roethlisberger and a higher career quarterback rating than both. He also earned more wins and a higher winning percentage than Manning. You can't argue with the numbers there. The knock on Rivers, of course is that he never won big in the postseason. As Colin Cowherd pointed out, you can't really blame Rivers for all of that. He played most of his career for a Chargers team with horrific ownership. The same ownership that fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer after he went 14-2 in 20016 and replaced him with Norv Turner. Norv. Freaking. Turner. Rivers had five head coaches during his career, while also playing in the same conference as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Roethlisberger. Under those circumstances, playoff success was going to take far more than Rivers performing at his best. The rest of the team needed to help out.It's also worth noting that for about his final decade with the Chargers the franchise failed to protect him. Rivers routinely had terrible offensive lines in front of him, yet he never missed a start. He was one of the toughest players to ever play the position. Hell, he played the 2007 AFC Championship Game with a torn ACL and nearly helped the Chargers top the undefeated New England Patriots. They lost 21-12 on a frigid, windy day at Foxboro but Rivers never gave up or let the devastating injury force him out of the action.Wins and losses have never been an effective way to judge NFL quarterbacks. There is so much out of a signal-caller's control. Dan Marino only made it to the Big Game once in his career, a loss to the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. He spent the next 15 years futilely chasing a return trip. No sane person would suggest those 15 seasons didn't matter because they didn't end in championships.Sadly, Rivers never got there. He'll retire as the best quarterback to never reach a Super Bowl, surpassing the great Warren Moon on the list. But that doesn't mean his career wasn't successful. Statistically Rivers is one of the 10 best to ever play the position. He will end up in the Hall of Fame when he's finally eligible in 2026.
Related Posts
Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris labelled Spurs stunning Europa League elimination a disgrace and hinted at deeper issues within the club following their 3-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb.
Spurs sensationally bowed out of the Europa League 3-2 on aggregate following Thursday s defeat to Croatian champions Dinamo after extra time in Zagreb.
The match went to extra time with Mislav Orsic completing his memorable hat-trick in the 106th minute to clinch Dinamo s last-16 triumph, with Spurs never in control after winning the opening leg 2-0.
We are all more than disappointed. It s just a disgrace, Spurs goalkeeper Lloris told BT Sport.
I hope everyone in the changing room feels responsible because it s a disgrace. The taste of the defeat tonight is more than painful. …
An Atletico Madrid fan group has called for the club to rule out signing Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he represents the antithesis of the team s values.
The Manchester United forward returned to training on Tuesday, having missed the pre-season tour of Asia and Australia, and is reportedly pushing to leave due to his desire to continue playing in the Champions League.
Suitors for Ronaldo s services have not been forthcoming, however, although Atletico have been linked with bringing the former Real Madrid superstar back to the Spanish capital.
Fans have made it clear they are not keen on the idea though, with Atletico s International Union of Fan Clubs (Union Internacional de Peñas Atletico de Madrid) issuing a statement on the matter.
In light of the poss…
Sergio Aguero will leave Manchester City at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, the club have confirmed.
Aguero is the club s record goalscorer with 257 goals and will bring to an end a glittering 10-year stint at the club when his contract expires in June.
He joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has gone on to cement his position as one of the club s greatest ever players.
The Argentina international has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five EFL Cups at City.
He is likely to win a fifth English top-flight crown this season, with City 14 points clear of second-place Manchester United, while they will also contest next month s EFL Cup final with Spurs.
…
Pep Guardiola knows he must not allow Diego Simeone s Atletico Madrid to smother Manchester City when the teams clash in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The City manager was impressed by how Atletico accounted for Manchester United in the previous round, preventing the Red Devils imposing their game on the second leg at Old Trafford.
A 1-0 win for Atletico carried Simeone s team through to the last eight as 2-1 aggregate winners, and now Guardiola and Simeone – arguably the two best coaches in world football – will go head to head on the touchline.
Guardiola believes Simeone has a job for as long as he wants it at Atletico, pointing to that security and board support as being telling in the success the club have had, notably in winning last season s LaL…
Yussuf Poulsen revelled in an amazing moment after RB Leipzig moved into the Champions League semi-finals.
Tyler Adams deflected 88th-minute strike lifted Leipzig to a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
A penalty from Joao Felix had earlier cancelled out Dani Olmo s opener in Lisbon, but Leipzig – founded just 11 years ago – advanced.
Poulsen, who arrived at the club in 2013, was delighted as Leipzig s rise continued, having been in the fifth tier in Germany in 2009-10.
You couldn t write a better story. It is a huge day and an amazing moment – we have to enjoy it, he said, via the club s website.
Another fantastic game is around the corner. We were the better team and are deservedly through to the semi-final. …
Werner on the Old Trafford radar
Suffering another Champions League collapse away at Galatasaray on Wednesday evening, have found themselves at the heart of real scrutiny this season.
While Erik ten Hag’s might have once again broken the bank over the summer, it has been suggested that the Premier League heavyweights could be set for another hectic January transfer window.
With former Atalanta marksman still waiting to open his Premier League account, it appears that Manchester United are seeking attacking reinforcements when the window opened up.
However, while might have struggled to find his feet since making a return to Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig last year, it has been suggested that the Germany international could be handed a shock lifeline in Janua…
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman does not know if he will still be in charge of the club for next season.
The Catalan giants head into Saturday s final LaLiga match of 2020-21 against Eibar knowing they cannot finish any higher than third place.
After a mixed start to the season, a 19-match unbeaten run in the top flight propelled Barca back into title contention as leaders Atletico Madrid began to falter.
However, Koeman has overseen just three wins from their past eight league games, meaning they are five points behind Real Madrid and seven adrift of Atleti heading into matchday 38.
Barca s recent league form, coupled with their Champions League last-16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain, has left Koeman facing serious questions over his future despite win…
Market: Bolivar win
Odds: 4/11 @
Looking to officially book their Copa Libertadores knockout stage ticket with a final Group E statement, Bolivar will welcome Palestino to the Estadio Hernando Siles in the early hours of Wednesday.
Starting with the hosts, why Bolivar might have been disappointed as they had to settle for a Primera Division silver medal finish last season, the Blues have continued to shine on the Copa Libertadores stage. Mustering 10 points from their five Group G appearances and with one foot firmly placed in the knockout stage, Flavio Robatto’s men are rightfully pencilled in as a landslide contender here. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they cruised their way to a routine 4-0 romp against Santa Cruz while on Clausura, t…
Sancho completes his Dortmund return
Although might have only arrived at Old Trafford back in July 2021 for a fee of £73million, the England international has quickly found himself at the heart of a Manchester United nightmare.
At the centre of a major controversy this season after a public falling out with Erik ten Hag, the 23-year-old has not made a single appearance for the Premier League giants since August 26th.
With the former Ajax boss making it abundantly clear that Sancho has no part to play going forward, the one-time Manchester City starlet has completed a loan switch back to .
Enjoying what was a hugely successful spell during his four-year stay in rural Germany, Sancho certainly appears to be relishing a return to the German heavyweights.
Ajax CEO Edwin van der Sar welcomed Manchester United s rumoured interest in head coach Erik ten Hag, while he hinted at a return to the Red Devils.
Ten Hag has been linked with Premier League giants United, who are eyeing a long-term manager following the interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick until the end of the season.
Ajax s Ten Hag has impressed in his time in Amsterdam, where the 51-year-old has delivered two Eredivisie titles and embarked on a memorable run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.
Ten Hag s men have been the entertainers of Europe this term, dazzling their way into the Champions League round of 16, becoming the first Dutch side in history to win all six of their group-stage games in a campaign following Tuesday s 4-2 victory over Sporti…