Players

  Philip Rivers is a winner. A starter for three seasons, Rivers has led the Chargers to three straight AFC West titles and three playoff wins. His career record as a starter, including playoffs, is 36-18 (.667) and he’s a very impressive 22-5 at home (.815).

  Rivers is demonstrating the kind of skills and leadership that haven’t been witnessed in San Diego since Dan Fouts ran the legendary “Air Coryell” offense. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Norv Turner, Rivers last season topped Fouts’ team record for single-season touchdown passes and became the only QB in franchise history besides Fouts to pass for more than 4,000 yards.

  The Chargers offense clicked in 2008 with Rivers at the helm. Most analysts believe Rivers was robbed when he was named only a first-alternate to the Pro Bowl. He spread the wealth in ’08 as nine different Chargers had at least 10 catches and caught a touchdown pass. Rivers led the league and set a new team mark with a passer rating of 105.5. Already the franchise’s all-time leader in passer rating (92.9), he became only the second Chargers starting QB to finish a season with a passer rating over 100.0 and he recorded a passer rating of 96.0-or-better in 13 of the team’s 18 games, including playoffs. His 65.3% completion mark was the third-highest in a season in team history, allowing him to take over as the team’s all-time leader in career completion percentage (62.3%).

  Cool under pressure, Rivers was the NFL’s second-leading passer on third downs and in the fourth quarter, posting passer ratings of 110.7 and 111.7, respectively. He threw an NFL-best 15 touchdown passes on third down and the Chargers led the NFL in fourth quarter scoring with 152 points.

  Rivers logged six 300-yard games in ’08, the most since Fouts had seven in 1985. He did so after collecting just four in his first two years as the starter. He even did it in back-to-back games, something not done by a Chargers quarterback since 1991.

   Rivers had a sensational month of December while leading the Chargers to the playoffs. He went 4-0 for the month, improving his career record to 14-0 in December, completing 80-of-121 (66.1%) for 1,054 yards with 11 touchdowns and just one interception. His passer rating for the month, a lofty 120.3, was second in the NFL.

  Rivers’ career got off to an outstanding start in San Diego. After spending two years on the sidelines behind Drew Brees, Rivers took over in 2006 and was outstanding from his first start. Rivers made his first-career start Sept. 11 at Oakland in a nationally-televised ESPN Monday Night Football game and led the Bolts to a 27-0 win, going 8-of-11 (.727) for a 133.0 passer rating. Since 1995, it was the second-highest completion percentage and third highest rating for an NFL quarterback making his first career start in a season opener.

  Rivers ended up making the Pro Bowl in 2006 after leading the Bolts to a team-record 14 wins.

 The Chargers closed out the season with 10 straight wins and finished the regular season undefeated at home for the first time in team history. The Chargers set a team record by scoring 492 points and Rivers set some very notable marks along the way. He became the first NFL quarterback to lead a team back from 17-point deficits in consecutive weeks. Rivers not only did that, but he did so on the road, leading the Chargers back to wins in Cincinnati and Denver in consecutive weeks. During those two wins, Rivers was in the midst of a streak of 19-straight scoring drives that ended in touchdowns without settling for a field goal. That was a team record and the fifth-longest streak in NFL history. The previous team mark had been 17. Rivers finished the year as the NFL leader in passer rating for the fourth quarter (116.6) and the third and fourth quarters combined (99.3).

  In 2007, Rivers was sensational down the stretch when the Chargers needed him the most. During the Chargers’ eight-game winning streak that led to the AFC Championship Game, he completed 133 of 214 (62.1%) for 1,656 yards with 14 TDs and only five INTs for a rating of 98.2, nearly 16 points higher than his cumulative season rating (82.4). Rivers’ toughness, both mental and physical, was put on full display in the final weeks of the regular season and the postseason. In an early Dec. victory over Tennessee, Rivers had to leave the game after spraining his knee. He returned in the second half and led the Chargers to a come-from-behind victory in overtime. Rivers continued to play and he fought through the final month of the season in severe pain.

  A different knee injury in the Bolts’ Divisional Playoff game in Indianapolis also sent him to the sideline, but Rivers refused to let it end his season. He had an arthroscopic procedure to repair a torn ACL on Monday following the Chargers’ playoff victory over the Colts and just six days later started and took every snap in the AFC Championship Game on a cold day in New England.

  Rivers has always been a winner. Since his junior season at Athens High School in 1998, his first as a starting QB, Rivers has never had a losing record. He went 11-2 (1998) and 10-3 (1999) at Athens; 8-4 (2000), 7-5 (2001), 11-3 (2002) and 8-5 (2003) at North Carolina State, and with the Chargers he’s posted seasons of 14-2 (2006), 11-5 (2007) and 8-8 (2008). Rivers’ collegiate totals at N.C. State included a 3-1 mark in bowl games. He was a five-time MVP in bowl games, including the 2004 Senior Bowl.

  Rivers and his family now make their year-round home in San Diego. However, they frequently return to Decatur, Alabama, the city in which he grew up and worked as a water boy when his dad, Steve, was the head football coach at Decatur High School.

  In February 2007 while Philip was back in Alabama to visit his folks, he picked up the local paper one day and read a Q&A with Lawrence County High School student Will Inman. One of the questions posed to Inman was about a famous person he’d like to meet. His answer was Rivers. After reading the story, Philip was so impressed that he decided to surprise the young man and he showed up unannounced on campus a couple of days later. It was a total surprise to all of the students on campus. Rivers spent time visiting with Inman and many of the school’s student athletes.

  Last spring, Rivers took part in the grand opening of D1 Sports Training and Therapy, a new training and rehabilitation center in Huntsville, Alabama that he co-owns with University of Tennessee Assistant Athletic Director Condredge Holloway. Holloway is well-known in the south as the first black quarterback in SEC history. D1 is a specialized facility that provides its clients with training at a level expected by athletes in NCAA Division I sports.

   Philip and his father have always been close. Steve was the best man in Philip’s wedding and he wears number 17 because it was the same number his dad wore in high school. In college, North Carolina State retired that number before Philip’s final home game. Nearly every day after practice, Rivers calls home to speak with his family. Most of his conversations with his dad include a rehash of certain plays the Chargers ran that day.

  Perhaps because of the special bond Philip shares with his dad, he has always had a special admiration for coaches. One of his favorites is basketball coach Bob Knight. During Philip’s junior season in 2002, the Wolfpack traveled to Texas Tech to face the Red Raiders in an early season football game. While talking to reporters in the week leading up to the game, Rivers mentioned that he wanted to do two things that week, beat Texas Tech and meet Coach Knight. When Knight caught wind of the story, he made a special trip to greet Rivers and his teammates when they arrived in town for the game. The two spoke and Coach Knight gave Philip a Texas Tech basketball sweater that Rivers still wears to work. Rivers also won the game, leading the Wolfpack to a thrilling 51-48 overtime win over the Red Raiders.

  Coincidentally, Rivers and Coach Knight had a chance to reunite in April 2007 when Philip was invited to throw out the first pitch before a San Diego Padres game at Petco Park. Coach Knight happened to be at the game that night as a guest of the Padres and he and Philip spoke briefly before the game.

  Rivers and his wife, Tiffany, met as kids in Alabama and were married after his first year at N.C. State. They have four children, daughters Halle, Caroline and Grace, and son Philip “Gunner,” and are in the process of starting the Rivers of Hope foundation (www.riversofhope.com) whose mission and focus is on helping foster children find permanent homes, and helping potential foster parents with the adoption process.

  A devout Catholic, Rivers was asked to speak to more than 2,500 youth at the Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina in February. He told the students how in college he used to take cabs to go to mass before bowl games and that he’s a regular participant in the team mass when on the road with the Chargers. In fact, both Rivers and his son spell their names with one “l” after the biblical apostle, Philip.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Drafted in first-round (4) by NY Giants, April 24, 2004…traded to Chargers for Eli Manning, third-round choice in ’04, and first and fifth-round choices in ’05, April 24, 2004…signed six-year contract, Aug. 24, 2004.

 2009: Completed his 10th-career fourth quarter come-from-behind victory. Rivers led the team on an 89 yard drive to close out the game. He completed six of seven passes for 79 yards on the final drive. Received game ball from coach Norv Turner for his performance. In week two, Rivers had the best passing day of his career against the Baltimore Ravens defense with 436 yards and two touchdowns, tying QB Dan Fouts for the fourth most prolific passing game in team history. In week 3, Rivers scrambled for a 5-yard touchdown run in a 23-13 win over the Dolphins. Week 4, Rivers threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns on 21 of 36 attempts rallying the Chargers from a 28-0 deficit. Week 5, Rivers went 20-33 for 274 yards for one touchdown.Completed passes of 20 or more yards to four different players(Gates-21, Floyd-20, Tomlinson-25, Tolbert-22). Posted a season-high passer rating of 122.6, throwing for 268 yards and three touchdowns in week 7. Gained sole possession of third place on the team's career touchdown passes list. Week 8, Rivers threw for 249 yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts and had one interception. The interception was his first since week two against Baltimore. Marked a career best span of 143 consecutive passes thrown without an interception. Finished week 9 contest against the Giants with 209 passing yards and three touchdowns including a game winning 18-yarder with 21 seconds left to play. Marked the 11th-career fourth-quarter game-winning touchdown drive of career. Week 10, completed 20 of 25 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Completed a career-high 80.0% of his passes and posted a season-high 131.8 passer rating. Also engineered a 12-play, 66-yard, 6:42 field goal drive late in the fourth quarter to extend their lead over the Eagles to eight points with just 30 seconds left to play.

  2008: Pro Bowl first-alternate…Chargers Offensive POY and co-MVP…Bolts Alumni Offensive POM for September…season-high 377 yards Wk 2 at Denver…Fed Ex Air NFL Player of Week after 48-29 victory over NY Jets on ESPN’s MNF Wk 3…first pass of night was INT and returned for TD, but settled down to complete 19 of next 24 for 250 yards and three TDs…Fed Ex Air NFL Player of Week vs. NE Wk 6 on NBC’s SNF...first-career 300-yard game (306) at Qualcomm Stadium and season-high passer rating (141.9)…two 2nd-half TD passes in 20-19 win over KC Wk 9…316 yards vs. Chiefs to become first Charger since John Friesz (1991) to post back-to-back 300-yard games…engineered 14-play, 94-yard drive (8:28) on GW TD march, going 8-of-8 for 75 yards…did not throw TD pass Nov. 16 at Pittsburgh, ending streak of 16 games with one, tied with John Hadl for third-longest streak in team history…AFC Offensive POM for December…Offensive POW by AFC and SI.com after 22-21 win Dec. 14 at KC... brought Chargers back from 21-10 deficit in final 4:55…19 of 25 for 199 yards with two TDs and no INTs in 4Q, while directing TD drives of 89 and 61 yards…GW TD pass to Vincent Jackson (10 yards) with 36 seconds left…Game Ball from ESPN.com after career-high four TDs in 41-24 win at TB Dec. 21…rallied team from 24-20 4Q deficit with TD passes of five and 32 yards...led team to third straight AFC West title with 52-21 win over Denver to close out regular season…rallied Chargers from 17-14 deficit in 4Q of AFC Wild Card Playoffs vs. Indy to 23-17 win in OT...directed game-tying FG drive late in 4Q and then led TD drive on first period of OT…308 yards and three TDs in Jan. 11 AFC Divisional Playoffs at Pittsburgh.

 2007: Completed first 15 passes Wk 3 at GB, tying Dan Fouts’ team record for consecutive completions…16th pass was intentionally thrown away out of back of end zone…Chargers co-Most Inspirational Player…AFC Offensive POW and FedEx Air NFL POW after posting season-best 151.4 passer rating Wk 5 at Denver…scored first-career rushing TD and went perfect 8-of-8 for 160 yards and two TDs (158.3) in 3Q…Game Ball from Head Coach Norv Turner after three TDs Nov. 25 vs. Baltimore…inj. knee in 2Q at Tennessee Dec. 9, but returned in 3Q and threw two 4Q TD passes to lead OT come-from-behind victory…led team back from 17-3 deficit in 4Q, capping 80-yard game-tying drive with TD pass to Antonio Gates with nine seconds left...Game Ball in Locker Room from Turner after passing for 292 yards in AFC Wild Card Playoff win over Tennessee Jan. 6…25-yard TD pass to Vincent Jackson in 3Q gave Chargers’ first lead of game…went 4-of-4 for 55 yards on TD drive and 9-of-10 for 137 yards and TD (152.1) in 3Q…left Jan. 13 Divisional Playoff win at Indianapolis on last play of 3Q after injuring knee while throwing screen pass to Sproles that turned into 56-yard TD catch-and-run, putting Bolts up, 21-17…started and played entire AFC Championship Game Jan. 20 at NE with torn ACL in right knee.

 2006: Pro Bowl…Chargers Offensive POY...Chargers Alumni POW after 40-7 win over Tennessee Sept. 17…featured on SI’s “Who’s Hot” list after leading Bolts to 23-13 win over defending SB Champion Steelers Oct. 8…AFC Offensive POW and FedEx Air NFL POW after 334-yard, two-TD game at SF Oct. 15…first-career 300-yard game...13 straight comp. in first half equaled third-longest stretch in team history…during comp. streak, racked up 195 yards and two TDs, including 57-yarder to Gates and 33-yarder to Jackson…completed 14 of first 15...lone incomplete intentionally thrown away…led four scoring drives in game during which he did not throw single incompletion, including three TD drives…even better on 3rd downs vs. SF, completing 9-of-10 for 142 yards and TD…NBC Football Night in America’s Player of Day and SI.com Offensive POW after 337 yards and three TDs in 49-41 come-from behind win at Cincinnati Nov. 12…brought team back from first-half deficits of 21-0 and 28-7 with team-record 42 points in second half…threw all three TD passes in second half…went 19-of-25 for 291 yards and three TDs after Bolts fell behind 21-0 with three incompletions being intentional throwaways…6-of-6 on TDs inside red zone...8-of-8 for 93 yards and TD (154.7) on 3rd downs in second half…led Chargers from 17-point deficit in 35-27 win in Denver Nov. 19...battled back after throwing INT that was returned 31 yards for TD to give Denver 24-7 lead…early in game, led 99-yard drive, Bolts’ longest since Nov. 25, 2001…fourth pass of game INT by Nick Ferguson, ending streak of 125 consecutive passes without INT, then longest active streak in NFL…was first INT since Oct. 22 at KC…with 29 seconds left in 4Q in rain Dec. 24 at Seattle, delivered picture-perfect 37-yard GW TD pass to Jackson…despite foot sprain, completed season-high .792 pct. vs. Arizona Dec. 31, including 9-for-10 for 135 yards and two scores (158.3) in 2Q…played through foot sprain in Jan. 14 playoff game against NE…DNP in 2007 Pro Bowl while recovering from foot injury.

 2005: Took over for inj. Drew Brees in 2Q of Dec. 31 season finale vs. Denver and led team on 10-play, 69-yard TD drive on first series. 2004: Played second half vs. KC Jan. 2 and threw first-career TD pass to Malcom Floyd.

 COLLEGE: NCAA’s second all-time leading passer with 13,484 yards and tied for fifth with 95 TDs… MVP of five bowl games, including 2004 Senior Bowl …seventh in Heisman Trophy voting as senior…34-17 record as starter among NCAA-record 51 career starts…school and ACC records for career att. (1,710), comp. (1,147), TDs responsible for (112), 300-yard games (18) and 400-yard games (7)…seventh QB in NCAA history and first from ACC with three 3,000-yard seasons…2003 ACC POY and first-team All-ACC after leading NCAA in comp. pctg. (.720) and rating (170.5)…second nationally in yards (4,491) and total offense per game (353.9)…MVP of 2003 Tangerine Bowl after career-high 475 yards and school-record tying five TDs in 56-26 win over Kansas…second-team All-ACC as junior…“Award of Distinction” from Columbus TD Club…co-recipient of Governor’s Award as team MVP…MVP of 2002 Gator Bowl win over Notre Dame… CNN/SI National POW after five-TD game vs. Navy in ’02…honorable mention All-ACC as soph. and MVP of Citrus Bowl…ACC Rookie of Year and Academic All-ACC in 2000…Newcomer of Year by ABC Sports and Freshman of Year by Football News and Columbus TD Club…MVP of 2000 Micron PC Bowl…ACC POW once, ACC Offensive Back of Week twice and league-record ACC Rookie of Week eight times…played at NC State from 2000-03…degree in business.

 PERSONAL: Born in Decatur, Alabama…Alabama Player of Year as senior at Athens High School…father Steve was his high school head coach.