Philip Rivers is retiring from football, ending his 17-year career as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history.
Rivers, who spent this past season with the Indianapolis Colts after 16 years with the Los Angeles Chargers, told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen in a statement Wednesday that playing quarterback in the NFL was his "childhood dream."
Rivers, 39, ranks fifth in NFL history with 63,440 passing yards, behind only Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. The eight-time Pro Bowler also is fifth in league history with 421 touchdown passes -- again behind only Brady, Brees, Manning and Favre.