SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #29 Philip Rivers
Featured29. Philip Rivers
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: QB
Experience: 15 Years
Philip Rivers has had quite the journey of a career. He was drafted #4 overall to the New York Giants in 2004, but was traded shortly after when #1 overall pick Eli Manning refused to play for San Diego. Rivers has remained in a Charger uniform since the trade, as 2019 will be his 16th season. In the beginning of his career he was the backup to Drew Brees. Over the course of his first two seasons, Rivers didn’t get much time on the field, but that all changed when Brees signed with New Orleans in 2006.
Right from the moment Rivers captured the starting job, he never looked back. After learning for two years under Brees, Rivers now had become a student of the game. Pair this with his God-given arm talent and you have a generational-type talent. In his first year as a starter Rivers totaled 3,388 Passing Yards, 22 TDs and 9 INTs. His second year was not as productive, as teams had a full year of game tape on him. In 2007, he totaled 3,152 Yards, 21 TDs and 15 INTs.
River’s success really took off in his next 10 years in the league (2008-2018). Throughout these years, his completion percentage has never fallen below 60%, and he always finds himself near the top of the league in passing yards. At age 37, Rivers is coming off of perhaps his best year as a pro. In 2018, Rivers threw for over 4300 yards, 32 TDs and only 12 INTs. He tied his best QBR of his career with 105.5 while leading one of the most high-powered offenses in the league. The Chargers ranked top 10 in almost every team offensive category in 2018.
Will Rivers continue to play at a high level and make playoff runs or will the Chargers be looking for a new QB soon? No one knows the answer but due to his lack of injury history it’s hard to believe that Rivers won’t be slinging the pigskin for at least another 3-4 years. Along with his health, Rivers is one of the most competitive players in the association. Many players have acknowledged his trash talk like Tampa Bay DT Ndamukong Suh: “He’s a character on the field, off the field spent some time with him, Pro Bowls and what not, obviously a great competitor and really just one of those guys that you enjoy playing against. He’s fiery, he’s going to try to make a bunch of plays on you, so we’ll have fun” (ESPN).
You can’t help but compare the legacies of Philip Rivers to his traded/ex-teammate counterparts. Drew Brees won Superbowl XLIV with the Saints, just a few years after signing with them. Eli Manning won two with the Giants in 2007 and 2011. But we are here today in 2019 and Rivers is still without a ring. It is fair to say Drew Brees has had a more memorable career, but there is no way Eli Manning was ever a more talented QB than Philip Rivers. His talent and competitive desire is why he is still playing at an elite level to this day, and there are no signs of his aerial dominance slowing down.
