Philip Rivers Retires; Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger Last of 2004 QB Class
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, leaving Ben Roethlisberger as the last player standing from the legendary 2004 quarterback draft class.
Rivers, 39, spent 16 seasons with the Chargers before joining Indianapolis for the 2020 season. He finishes his career with 63,440 yards, which had been third amongst active players and fifth overall in NFL history. Rivers threw for 421 touchdowns and 209 interceptions.
Seven times, Rivers led his team to the postseason, where he compiled a 5-7 record, but never was able to lead a team to the Super Bowl. Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2013, led the NFL in passing yards in 2010 and touchdowns and passer rating in 2008.
He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft out of NC State, and was immediately traded by the New York Giants to the San Diego Chargers for No. 1 choice Eli Manning. Roethlisberger was taken with the 11th overall pick by the Steelers. Matt Schaub and Luke McCown were taken in later rounds, giving the class five quarterbacks that spent over a decade in the NFL.
All three players threw for over 50,000 yards in their careers, all three played at least 15 seasons, with Manning and Roethlisberger combining to win four Super Bowls.
Just five players in total from the class played in 2020, including Rivers, Roethlisberger, Schaub, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and San Francisco 49ers punter Andy Lee.
Read This Next
