The Los Angeles Chargers have been Philip Rivers’ team for well over a decade, and based on a comment made by head coach Anthony Lynn he’ll be leading this team many years into the future.
Speaking about his quarterback at the combine in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Lynn said he won’t be surprised if Rivers plays well into his 40s.
#Chargers HC Anthony Lynn: It wouldn’t surprised me if Philip Rivers plays into his 40s. He is expecting to come back every single year and lead this team to a championship. pic.twitter.com/QDenuBNRoi
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) March 1, 2018
Rivers just turned 36 last December. He’s been remarkably durable over the course of his career, never once missing a start since he took over as the starter in 2006. Of course, he’s also been one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL during that stretch and heads into the 2018 season with more than 50,000 passing yards under his belt, along with 342 touchdowns and 166 interceptions.
Los Angeles has made a concerted effort at protecting Rivers recently. The Chargers invested two top picks in offensive linemen last year, brought in Melvin Gordon to pound the rock and took Mike Williams in the first round. They have also built up a defense that appears capable of dominating in the postseason, so it stands to reason that as long as Rivers stays healthy, this team will once again be a force in the AFC in the coming years.
Of course, there’s been chatter in recent years that Rivers might be ready to hang up the cleats due to the team’s move from San Diego to Los Angeles. But it sure seems like he’s happy with where he’s at now (having figured out a way to travel in style) and wants to remain for the long haul.