Philip Rivers is officially eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The legendary Chargers quarterback was included among the 128 modern-era nominee for Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 that was announced on Wednesday.
Rivers, who spent 16 seasons with the Bolts, announced his retirement as a Charger in July.
An eight-time Pro Bowler, Rivers holds more than 30 Chargers records and led the Bolts to four straight AFC West titles from 2006-09. And, of course, there are his 224 consecutive starts at quarterback.
He is the franchise leader in nearly every possible statistical passing category, including yards (59,271), touchdowns (397), completions (4,908) and attempts (7,591).
Rivers also orchestrated 32 game-winning drives and 28 fourth-quarter comebacks. It all added up to 123 wins as the Chargers starting quarterback, a number that obviously ranks first in team history.
Former Chargers quarterback Drew Brees is also among the 128 nominees. Brees, who spent the majority of his career with the Saints, was a 2001 second-round pick by the Chargers and started 58 games for the Bolts.
Brees ranks second all-time with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdown passes.
A selection committee will reduce the list to 50 players in mid-October before the group is trimmed to 25 semifinalists later in the fall.
The list of 15 finalists will be announced before Super Bowl LX before the Class of 2026 is unveiled in February.
Here is a look at the seven other Bolts who are hoping to get the call from Canton.
S Rodney Harrison
Drafted by the Chargers in 1994, Harrison spent nine seasons with the team and was a Pro Bowl selection twice during his tenure. A two-time Super Bowl champion later in his career and two-time First-Team All-Pro, he helped set the modern standard for safeties across the league. He will go into the Chargers Hall of Fame next month.
LB NaVorro Bowman
Currently the Chargers linebackers coach, Bowman was a force in the middle over his seven seasons in the NFL. The former linebacker earned four All-Pro and three Pro Bowl selections and was one of the best in the league at his position, spending the majority of his career with the 49ers.
WR Wes Welker
Welker began his NFL career with the Chargers, signing as an undrafted free agent after the 2004 NFL Draft. The wide receiver finished his 12-year career as a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and 9,924 receiving yards.
FB Lorenzo Neal
Neal had the most successful tenure of his career with the team over his five seasons. Blocking for Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Neal was a driving force for the success those Bolts team had running the ball during that time period. A member of the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s, Neal is recognized as one best modern fullbacks in recent history.
LB Thomas Davis
The former All-Pro linebacker spent a season with the Chargers in 2019 and was a three-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 2015. Davis was also the recipient of the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2014 while a member of the Panthers, where he spent 13 of his 15 seasons.
RB (Also WR/PR/KR) Eric Metcalf
Metcalf spent one season with the Chargers in 1997, where he had three punt return touchdowns on the way to All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades. He finished his career with over 7,900 yards from scrimmage and over 9,200 total return yards.
LB Takeo Spikes
A Charger for two seasons, Spikes finished with 184 combined tackles and an interception during his time with the team. An All-Pro in 2004, Spikes was also a Pro Bowler in 2003 and 2004.
