30 Interesting Things Every Fan Should Know About Philip Rivers

Philip Michael Rivers, with a career passer rating of 95.7, the fifth-best all-time among NFL quarterbacks with at least 1,500 passing attempts, is ranked as 4th all-time in consecutive starts by a quarterback in NFL history. Here are some unknown facts about Philip Rivers, the American football quarterback:

1. He was born on December 08, 1981 in Decatur, Alabama to Steve Rivers, a football coach and Joan, a teacher.
2. As a kid he dreamed of being a musician and was interested in basketball too. He mastered the art of dribbling at the age of two.
3. Rivers had another dream and aspiration, that of playing football idolizing his father. He pasted photo of his face on the cover of Sports Illustrated, for a poster project during his fifth grade.
4. He did his schooling at Decatur and at Athens High School. After high school he was recruited by North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
5. Although he made first start in an official game during his seventh grade in 1994, he had already spent as much time on the practice fields and in the film rooms, as many college quarterbacks.
6. As a freshman at NC State in 2000, he passed for 3,054 yards with 25 touchdowns in the season. He was Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the week a record eight times and was honored as the ‘ACC Freshman of the Year.’
7. As a senior he had an outstanding season with fourth straight MVP award and was named ACC Player of the Year 2003.’
8. His collegiate career ended on high note with NCAA record of 51st consecutive college starts and completed 1147 passes in 1,710 attempts.
9. He completed 13,484 passing yards and 95 touchdown passes during his stay at NC State to be named ‘ACC Athlete of the Year’ for 2003-04.
10. During the 2004 NFL Draft, Rivers was not a first choice quarterback with doubt raised over his arm strength and unorthodox side-arm throwing motion. He was drafted in as fourth pick by New York Giants and traded for Eli Manning of San Diego Chargers.
    
11. In August 2004, he signed a six years contract with San Diego Chargers for $ 40.5 million as its third quarterback options.
12. Rivers finally made to the NFL starting line in a game against Oakland Raiders on September 11, 2006. He completed 8 passes in 11 attempts with one touchdown, in a 27-0 win.
13. On January 20, 2008, during the ‘AFC Championship’ game against New England Patriots, Rivers injured his anterior ligament but still went on to play the entire game, which Patriots won 21-12. It was hailed by sports critics as one of the gutsiest performance.
14. Rivers with more than 10,000 yards in the past three years, he agreed for new contract extension on August 24, 2009. The contract was for six years, worth $ 92 million including a $ 38 million as guarantee amount.
15. At the end of 2010 season he was invited to the 2011 Pro Bowl, his fourth invitation overall. He was named the quarterback in the ‘2010 NFL Alumni Player of the Year Award’.
16. On September 30, 2012, Rivers played his 100th career game which happens to be his 100th consecutive start as well.
17. A 21 yard pass to Malcom Floyd, in the first quarter helped him reach 25,000 career yards, to become seventh fastest quarterback in the NFL history.
18. Rivers ended the 2013 season with 4,478 passing yards with 32 touchdowns. He was named comeback player of the year by both Associated Press and Football Writers Association as he led his team to playoffs.
19. He was voted Chargers ‘Most Valuable Player’ for 2014 season with passer rating of 120 plus in five consecutive games. Despite suffering from sore ribs and bulging disk in his lower back, he almost led Chargers to playoff.
20. On August 15, 2015, Chargers announced contract extension for four years until 2019. The deal was worth$ 84 million with $ 65 million guaranteed.
    
21. Rivers was ranked 46th on the NFL Top 100 players of 2016, three places lower than the previous year.
22. In a match against Denver Broncos on October 13, 2016, Rivers passed Dan Fouts to become the Chargers’ all-time passing leader. By end of 2016, he had amassed 45,833 passing yards.
23. He also holds team record of 93 wins by quarterback apart from 3,579 passing completions and 292 passing touchdowns.
24. Rivers married his middle school sweetheart Tiffany, on May 18, 2001. He was 19 years and she was 18 years old then. They have eight children.
25. Rivers proposed to Tiffany during his freshman year of college at N.C State. Before that he had asked his coach Chuck Amato, if it is OK with him to get married and got his approval.
26. In 2010, the couple started a foundation named ‘Rivers of Hope Foundation’ to help foster children find permanent families. He was one of the three finalists for the ‘Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year’ for his charity work.
27. On March 17, 2014, He addressed the class of 2014 at the 125th Annual Commencement Ceremony of the ‘Catholic University of America. He is recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.
28. Rivers is a devote Catholic and does a great deal of work in speaking with youth about spirituality and the virtue of chastity.
29. Since his high school, he has worn number 17. It is reported that his father wore the same number, when he was a player.
30. Rivers regrets not winning a Super Bowl for Chargers at San Diego. He got emotional during a speech about the chargers’ move to Los Angeles.
    
31. Philip Rivers Net Worth: $50 Million