Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers says he plans to play in 2020 and start his 225th game in a row.
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00:00But ultimately, we fell short, but we had plenty of opportunities.
00:04And what an atmosphere, awesome place, awesome crowd.
00:08And just came up short.
00:13What was going through your mind after the game was over and
00:16you were walking down the field?
00:17Were you thinking big picture or was it what was going through your mind?
00:20Well, I think, first of all, I was trying to just see as many of those Chiefs guys
00:22as I could and wish them the best moving forward.
00:25Knowing that feeling that there's more football left and
00:29you're one of 12 is exciting and then, obviously, they find out they get a bye and
00:33all, so I love to go at it with those guys, as everybody knows.
00:39But I also have a great respect for guys and how they play and how hard they play.
00:43And so afterwards, you wish them the best and tell them, go get them.
00:48And yeah, so I mean, that was most of it.
00:51I mean, there was maybe a glimpse of it that was kind of like, shoot.
00:55If it's the last time here or last time in that uniform,
00:59I think that's a possibility.
01:02But I think I didn't try not to get too far ahead.
01:07It's just too hard to do that, to go there immediately at the end of the game.
01:12There was the one moment where Chris Jones, he came sort of patting you back and
01:16you gave him a little slug.
01:17Yeah.
01:20Between the tap and the slug.
01:24Yeah, that was the first play of the game.
01:26And I really thought my leg was broke, but obviously, thankfully it wasn't.
01:30It was one of those, I thought it was a little cheap just because I didn't think
01:35he had to finish me.
01:36It was already caught underneath him and then he kind of finished me.
01:38But again, we've talked after the game and
01:42even during a little break in action.
01:46And shoot, it's all good, it's part of it.
01:49Some of that is good for me to get me going a little bit.
01:52But shoot, what a player he is now.
01:54Talking about one of the best defensive, he's up there.
01:57If not one, he's a close second of defensive tackles in the league.
02:00And he's a heck of a player.
02:03Is the love of the game still there for you?
02:06Yeah, yeah, it's still there.
02:08I think in a year like this, it can drain you a little bit and beat you up.
02:12But yeah, no, it's still there.
02:14There's nothing like it, competing at this level, living the dream.
02:19Even in a situation when you're five and ten, I was asked at some point this week,
02:25what's the motivation?
02:26It's like, shoot, the motivation?
02:28I'm 38 years old, I get to play the Kansas City Chiefs at this place?
02:31Are you kidding me?
02:32I don't care what the record is.
02:33So that tells me that I still got some juice left.
02:38And I love to prepare, talking to Coach Spagnola afterwards,
02:42I'd never really spoken to him.
02:44Just that, again, and I appreciate it,
02:47just that mutual respect of him saying the challenge for
02:50preparing, knowing the stuff that I try to get done.
02:52And likewise for him, because he makes it dang tough.
02:55I mean, those kind of things are what's awesome throughout the week.
03:00And I do still enjoy that.
03:02So how much of that juice comes from your desire to prepare and
03:05still go through it, and you want to hear it every week?
03:07And how much of it now is kind of gone to, again,
03:09when Chip on your shoulders, I'm sure you're still familiar, you're still familiar?
03:12Yeah, I really don't think that's there.
03:14Because I think, again, no disrespect, but I think it can become just cliche.
03:21If you're 38 and you throw a bunch of interceptions,
03:22that's what they're going to say.
03:23Can't throw it anymore, can't throw it out, can't throw this, arm strength.
03:26And I almost laugh at it because I want to go, well,
03:29let's sit down and watch the 16 games together.
03:31And we can see every play you want.
03:33And I'll tell you the ones that, yeah, that was horrible.
03:35Look at that terrible throw.
03:37And then I'll go, now, what do you want to say about this throw?
03:39And so on.
03:40So there's really no chip to prove anything to anybody.
03:44I know the people that know, no.
03:46And that's that I still can play at a high level.
03:49Have I made plenty of mistakes this year that hurt us in some games?
03:52Yes.
03:53Were we in some games we could have overcome them?
03:55Absolutely.
03:56See it all over the league.
03:58So just like today, the stats won't tell the whole story today.
04:00So that's why at this point in my career, I could care less about them.
04:04The only stat is about winning and losing.
04:06And again, I didn't do enough this year to help us win more football games.
04:10And I take responsibility for that in the plays and the mistakes
04:14that I should be responsible for.
04:16But as far as can I do it, there's no question.
04:20Do I still want to?
04:22Absolutely.
04:23So if you did come back, and you're able to kind of clean up some of those
04:27mistakes and kind of get some guys in, do you think you guys could get back
04:30for you this year?
04:31I think there's a chance.
04:32I think there is a lot of questions to be answered.
04:35It's not just a matter of if I'm back and if I play well,
04:38we'll go win 12 games.
04:40We're far from that being the just check that box and everything will be good.
04:45If he doesn't turn it over, we're good.
04:47I think that would be inaccurate.
04:50There's a lot of question marks moving forward.
04:52And I think as those get answered and how those get answered,
04:56and along with my personal, that will clear up a lot of things.
05:01Is that part of your evaluation process on whether or not you-
05:04No question.
05:04No question.
05:06You've obviously been very focused on the moment.
05:08Has there been times where you've sort of taken it all in and
05:13slowed it down and appreciated sort of- Yeah, I think so.
05:18Start side of your career?
05:19No question.
05:21Whether it's exactly the end or not, which it still could be, but
05:26either way, we're probably on 16, playing a little par three with only two holes to
05:31go, and definitely on that back stretch.
05:35So I think I have, and there's been times I've been a little emotional,
05:38even at the house, talking through things and thinking about, man,
05:41the last blitz protection meeting, or the last bus ride.
05:46So those things I have gotten to every now and then, and
05:50that's when my wife says, shoot, just don't, so
05:52you can try to hold it in, it'll all blow up at some point.
05:54So I have allowed myself to do that, but at the same point go, shoot,
05:58don't let that ruin the moment that you're in.
06:01Just be right here and enjoy it like I always have, because I can say I don't
06:05feel like I've ever taken it for granted, but certainly in year seven,
06:08at the end of the year, you don't leave this game,
06:11in this situation, feeling the same way I feel right now.
06:15So it is a little different, but gotta just, again, be in the present.
06:22That was really my whole thing about today, is just be right here and shoot,
06:24play, go play, and I thought we did that.
06:27And again, that doesn't mean it's enough.
06:29It's ultimately not enough, but I do think that you can walk out of here
06:33with your head held high when you fight and compete and
06:36do it the only way you know how.
06:37And so that's one thing I'll never apologize for and
06:39never really feel ashamed of, because I just do it the way I know how,
06:44as hard as I can do it, and sometimes it's enough, sometimes it's not.
06:46And that's the only way I'll continue to do it.
06:49You mentioned this could be your last game in this uniform.
06:52Would you consider wearing a different uniform if that opportunity presents itself?
06:58Yeah, I mean, I plan to play football, so yeah.
07:00I mean, again, where that's gonna be, I think,
07:03we'll get sorted out over the next, what is it, three months, I guess.
07:06I've never been in this position.
07:07I usually don't even know when the league year starts and
07:09when all those things are.
07:11So we'll just kind of see.
07:13Again, I'm very thankful for the 16 years, and
07:16if there's another, I'll be thankful for that one.
07:19But I think with the uncertainty, it just comes that unknown, and
07:22it kind of just has to play out over time.
07:24Yeah, if that were to happen, you have 16 years here, five years in the lobby,
07:28and you have a lot of stability in your life for the most part.
07:31How weird would that be to walk into a brand new city with a brand new practice
07:35facility and meet the whole brand new bunch of guys and get into a relationship?
07:38Yeah, it would be weird, no question.
07:40I think that's the thing, too, that I enjoy the most.
07:44I think all of you that I've talked to over the years, I love being a teammate.
07:49I love that, and I love the camaraderie and just being a teammate.
07:54The people, I mean, that's what makes it.
07:56That's what makes this whole thing special.
07:59So I think that's what will make it hard, but I think we could all agree.
08:04I mean, I'd like the people at those places, too, probably, you know what I mean?
08:08You'd quickly get to where you're like, shoot, this guy reminds me of him.
08:11I mean, you'd quickly get adapted, and
08:14again, it's just because it's such an unknown that who knows?
08:18And again, I'm making no predictions by any means, but
08:21I think that would be a hard adjustment.
08:26But probably one that's not as hard as maybe I think,
08:28just because this is the only place I've known.
08:30There's been a lot of different people come through here, too.
08:32I just hadn't left.
08:33There are a lot of different teammates that have become my favorites that I
08:36didn't know eight years ago, you know?
08:38So I think that those kind of things happen wherever you end up.
08:43So at this point, retirement isn't an option?
08:45I don't think so.
08:46It's not, right?
08:47As I stand today, as long as somebody wants me, I'll be playing somewhere.
08:52But, I mean, shoot, in a month, I don't know.
08:55I may be ready to put on a headset and call a ball play.
08:58I don't know.
08:59I really don't.
09:00But yes, as honest as I can answer right now, if one of 32 teams want me and
09:05it's the right situation, and I can start that 225th game in a row,
09:10I'll be running out there.
09:11You don't get to look at the Chiefs' team.
09:14You've seen championship games.
09:17Do they have a look at the team that they go against?
09:19You know, again, I don't want to give you a disrespectful answer,
09:21because I think, heck yeah, they do.
09:23They're one of 12 that's in it.
09:25So that's the way I see it.
09:26They're one of 12 teams that's in it.
09:27We've seen six seeds win it.
09:28We've seen five seeds win it.
09:29They're going to be a two seed.
09:29So, heck yeah, they have a chance.
09:31I think anytime you have the speed they have on offense and
09:33a quarterback that can make every throw, and then the defensive kind of doing this.
09:39They've kind of been doing this over the last six weeks.
09:41You just see it, the way they communicate.
09:43Obviously, 32's a heck of a player.
09:4429's playing some safety now.
09:45I've always thought 49 for them was underappreciated.
09:49All the things he brings.
09:51You had a guy like Suggs that still, obviously,
09:53as I found out today, still got some juice left.
09:55We already talked about 95 and 55.
09:57I think the corners are solid.
09:59So, heck yeah, they can.
10:01And I think Spagnola, he just keeps everybody, he keeps you on your toes.
10:04And I think that style of defense with those weapons,
10:07they may give up some plays, but they also may score the very next play because
10:12of what they have on the offensive side.
10:14You gave your gloves to some fans, some Chiefs fans afterward?
10:17There was one guy in particular back there that you almost feel like you get
10:20to know over however many years he's been standing right there.
10:24I laugh because he, many years ago, me and
10:28Charlie Whitehurst were going to Oklahoma Jokes, and we were standing in line.
10:31It was a long line, and we were in there, and
10:33there was nothing but Chiefs fans everywhere.
10:35And here we are standing there, and now we've been seen, and
10:37we're standing in line, and it is a brutal line.
10:40And we stand in there about three minutes, and Charlie looks at me and says,
10:42are we staying in this line?
10:43And I go, I'm good, let's just go.
10:45So we left.
10:46So the next day, we're here at the game, and this guy hollers at me, hey, Rivers,
10:49let me tell you how we do it at Oklahoma Joes.
10:51You stand in line like everybody else, you order, you get your plate.
10:55So since then, I was like, how the heck do you know I was in there?
10:58So and then there's always just been this kind of, he gives it to me a little bit,
11:04and then we'll make a good play, and he kind of goes, hey.
11:06So there's kind of been that back and forth.
11:08And we caught eye contact at some point, and he said, can I get those?
11:13So I thought, what the heck, if it's the last time I'm in here, and those gloves,
11:17who knows where they would have ended up had I not done that over the next six
11:21months, I wouldn't have seen them anyway.
11:23Is it the first time you get in there?
11:25I don't know, probably to an opposing fan, maybe, I don't know.
11:28I mean-
11:29That guy's-
11:29Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:31So if you look back at your career here, what are you proudest of, or
11:35sort of, or something like that?
11:37Yeah, I think, and I really like to talk about the team, the team, the team,
11:41because that's what's most important to me.
11:43But I think I'll answer this individually.
11:45I think the 224 starts in the regular season, obviously,
11:48there's however many 11 playoff games.
11:50I think that's probably one of the most personal,
11:53most meaningful things, to have been able to be out there every week.
11:57Some of it's toughness, some of it's being blessed with being healthy enough.
12:01And some of it's the guys, James Collins, and Damon, and the staff, and
12:05all the doctors, Dr. Chow, and those guys helping me find a way to get out there.
12:09So that's one, just from a personal standpoint, of actually suiting up and
12:13trotting out there every game for 200 and whatever in a row.
12:17And I think other than that, I mean, I think it's that I can say I gave it
12:21everything I had, I mean, every week.
12:24So, and maybe it means an interception on 4th and 18 when you're down 10.
12:29Because I don't care that it's going to say two interceptions, I really don't.
12:34It's just like, I ain't quitting.
12:36So I think that, that doing it with so many guys over 14 years.
12:43And going to the locker room, win or lose, and I can say,
12:47that gamut, we're short, we fell short, but, or we won, but shoot.
12:54I couldn't try it any harder.
12:56So I think two different kind of elements there.
12:58But I think that's the two things that come to my mind, we're out there.
13:02All right, thanks.
13:04All right, guys.