Philip Rivers's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Philip Rivers. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Philip Rivers is a retired American football quarterback who played 17 seasons in the NFL. Drafted 4th overall in 2004, he spent 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers after being traded by the Giants. Known for his unconventional throwing motion and competitiveness, Rivers led the Chargers to multiple playoff appearances but never reached a Super Bowl. He concluded his career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. Currently, Rivers is the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1981: Dan Fouts' touchdown passes record

In 1981, Dan Fouts set a record of 33 touchdown passes.

1982: Dan Fouts Franchise Record

In 1982, Dan Fouts set the franchise single-game record for most passing yardage with 444 yards.

2000: Freshman Year at NC State

In 2000, as a freshman, Philip Rivers led NC State to an 8-4 record and a MicronPC Bowl win. He debuted with 397 passing yards and three touchdowns against Arkansas State and earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors.

2003: Passing Yards and Touchdowns

During the 2003 season, Philip Rivers had eight games with over 300 passing yards and four games with over 400 passing yards, along with 29 touchdowns in the regular season. He led the ACC in passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. NC State finished with a 7–5 record and qualified for a bowl game.

2003: Tangerine Bowl Win and ACC Honors

In 2003, Philip Rivers led NC State to a 56-26 win over Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl, throwing for a career-high 475 yards and five touchdowns. He was named ACC Player of the Year and ACC Athlete of the Year for the 2003-04 season.

2003: Senior Season at NC State

In 2003, as a senior, Philip Rivers threw for 4,491 yards and 34 touchdowns in 12 games, establishing himself as the most productive and durable quarterback in ACC history.

November 12, 2006: Comeback Victory Against Bengals

On November 12, 2006, Philip Rivers led the Chargers to a comeback victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing for 337 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-41 win after being down 28-7 at halftime.

2006: Consecutive Regular Season Starts Begin

In 2006, Philip Rivers began a streak of consecutive regular season starts that lasted until 2020.

2007: AFC West Victory and Season Stats

In 2007, Philip Rivers helped the Chargers turn their season around after a 1-3 start, finishing 11-5 and winning the AFC West for the second straight year. Rivers concluded the season with 3,152 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.

2007: Selection to the Pro Bowl

In 2007, Philip Rivers was selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl due to his performance in the prior season. The Chargers, led by Rivers, had the highest-scoring offense in the NFL.

2007: AFC Championship Game Performance with Injury

In 2007, during the AFC Championship Game, Philip Rivers was praised for playing the entire game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, requiring subsequent surgery. His gutsy performance was recognized as one of the NFL's Top 10 Gutsiest Performances.

December 28, 2008: Chargers Team Record for Touchdown Passes

On December 28, 2008, Philip Rivers set the Chargers team record for touchdown passes in a season with 34, surpassing Dan Fouts' previous record from 1981.

January 3, 2009: Wild Card Round Victory

On January 3, 2009, the San Diego Chargers, led by Philip Rivers, defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round, advancing to the AFC Divisional Playoff. Rivers set up Nate Kaeding for a game-tying field goal that would lead to overtime, where the Chargers would go on to win 23–17.

2010: NFL Alumni Player of the Year Award

In 2010, Philip Rivers was named the quarterback in the 2010 NFL Alumni Player of the Year Awards, surpassing Tom Brady. In the same year he missed the Pro Bowl for the birth of his child.

2011: Pro Bowl Selection and NFL Top 100 Ranking

For his 2011 season performance, Philip Rivers was named to the Pro Bowl. He was later ranked 61st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.

2011: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Finalist

In 2011, Philip Rivers was named one of three finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his work with the Rivers of Hope Foundation, an endeavor he and his wife oversaw. The foundation supported the San Pasqual Academy, a residential education campus designed specifically for foster teens.

2012: 100th Consecutive Start and Career Milestone

In 2012, Philip Rivers started his 100th career game, also marking his 100th consecutive start. He became the seventh fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 25,000 career yards. The Chargers finished with a 7-9 record, missing the playoffs and leading to coaching changes.

2012: NFL Top 100 Players of 2012 ranking

Philip Rivers was ranked 61st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.

2013: Record for Completion Percentage and Pro Bowl Selection

In 2013, Philip Rivers set an NFL record for completion percentage (83%) for a quarterback who also threw for over 400 yards. He surpassed 30,000 career yards passing and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career.

May 17, 2014: Philip Rivers Receives Honorary Degree

On May 17, 2014, Philip Rivers received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, and addressed the class of 2014 at the 125th annual commencement ceremony of the Catholic University of America (CUA).

2014: Comeback Player of the Year Award

In 2014, Philip Rivers was named Comeback Player of the Year by both Associated Press (AP) and Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA). He was ranked 34th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.

2015: Career Highs and Franchise Records

Despite the disappointing season, in 2015, Philip Rivers set career highs and franchise records with 437 pass completions on 661 pass attempts and 4,792 passing yards, which ranked second among NFL quarterbacks. He finished 11 yards short of breaking the franchise single-season passing yards record held by Fouts.

2015: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2015, Philip Rivers was ranked 43rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.

October 13, 2016: Chargers' All-Time Passing Yards Leader

On October 13, 2016, during Week 6 of the season, Philip Rivers passed Dan Fouts to become the Chargers' all-time passing yards leader, marking a significant milestone in his career with the team.

2016: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2016, Philip Rivers was ranked 46th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

December 19, 2017: Named to Seventh Pro Bowl

On December 19, 2017, Philip Rivers was named to his seventh Pro Bowl along with his top receiver Keenan Allen. This recognition highlighted his consistent performance and contributions to the Chargers.

2017: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2017, Philip Rivers was ranked 73rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017. Despite the struggles, he maintained a presence among the league's top players.

2018: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2018, Philip Rivers was ranked 56th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

2019: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2019, Philip Rivers was ranked 17th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.

2020: Passing Milestones and Injury

During the 2020 season, Philip Rivers passed Dan Marino to become fifth on the all-time passing yards list. Additionally, he ruptured his plantar plate during a game against the Green Bay Packers, requiring offseason surgery, though he continued to play with the injury.

2020: End of Consecutive Regular Season Starts

In 2020, Philip Rivers' streak of consecutive regular season starts came to an end.

August 26, 2021: Rivers Wins First Game as High School Coach

On August 26, 2021, Philip Rivers achieved his first victory as a high school football head coach. He led the St. Michael Catholic Cardinals to a 49–0 win.