LEADING OFF QB RIVERS RETIRES AFTER 17 SEASONS

Philip Rivers retired from the NFL on Wednesday, after 17 seasons. Rivers, the No. 4 pick in the 2004 draft in a class with Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, played 16 seasons with the Chargers and the 2020 season with the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers selected Manning with the No. 1 pick, then swapped him to the New York Giants. Rivers announced his decision to the San Diego Union-tribune days after Colts GM Chris Ballard indicated a move might be coming. While he said he definitely still can play, Rivers said he’s ready for a new chapter — coaching high school football. Rivers retires at No. 5 on the all-time passing list with 63,440 yards, behind Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, and fifth in career TD passes with 421 behind Brady, Brees, Manning and Favre. The Pro Football Hall of Fame company Rivers is surrounded by all won Super Bowls, but Rivers did not.