The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t likely to see a new quarterback in Los Angeles anytime soon if Philip Rivers gets his wish.
The Los Angeles Chargers are an interesting team for fans. Even when they fail to surround their top quarterback with the requisite talent to compete at the highest level, they also realize they’re always going to be a contender every season as long as Philip Rivers is under center. Having a franchise quarterback that good every year makes them competitive, even if the coach and front office continue to bumble the rest of the roster.
That’s what makes Rivers’ most recent statement a bit scary for the rest of AFC West. When asked about playing for the Chargers as they will open a new stadium in their home of Los Angeles, Rivers says he hopes to still be the starting quarterback for the Chargers even when given a date of 2020—four seasons from now.
"“I hope to still be playing football in 2020, and certainly I hope I’m still playing here,” Rivers said. “So yeah, I hope to get to see that stadium then. That’s a long way out. I’ve learned to just take them one year at a time and one game at a time at this point. I’m certainly thankful I’ve been able to be out there for all of them since 2006. I don’t take that for granted. And hopefully I’m still playing well enough and we’ve won enough football games that I will be able to trot out there in 2020 in that new stadium.”"
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The Chargers seem to be on the brink of competition again. Joey Bosa is the most elite defender to enter the division since Khalil Mack and Marcus Peters, and they have good to great young players at cornerback, linebacker and the defensive front already. Given that they invested most of this year’s draft to bolster the offense, especially with two new starting-quality guards and heralded wide receiver Mike Williams, and the Chargers look like an ascending team capable of upsetting someone in a competitive division.
Last season, Rivers threw 33 touchdown passes, the second highest total of his career. He accomplished this without his top target, Keenan Allen, who missed all but one game last year.
Rivers will turn 36 in December. If he plays through 2020, at least, he will still be the starter for the Chargers at the same time that the Chiefs have to either pick up a team option on Patrick Mahomes or let him walk. It’s an incredible run that gives the Chargers hope of remaining competitive and building a winner at the time they unveil a new stadium.