Philip Rivers has not missed a game since taking over as the Chargers’ quarterback in 2006. Harry How/Getty Images
In 2006, the San Diego Chargers had a conundrum. Their starting quarterback from the previous season was a 27-year-old free agent who was coming back from a severe shoulder injury. While they had gone 21-11 over the previous two seasons, they had not won a playoff game since 1994, and they had a first-round pick from the 2004 draft on the bench, ready to step in as a starter.
The player they chose to let go, Drew Brees, went on to become the most prolific passer in N.