Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers says he plans to play in 2020 and start his 225th game in a row.
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00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:07 Well, I think, first of all, I was trying to see as many of those Chiefs guys
00:09 as I could and tell them, wish them the best moving forward.
00:13 Knowing that feeling that there's more football left
00:15 and you're one of 12 is exciting.
00:17 And then obviously, they find out they get a bye and all.
00:20 So I'd love to go at it with those guys, as everybody knows.
00:26 But I also have a great respect for guys and how they play
00:29 and how hard they play.
00:30 And so afterwards, you wish them the best and tell them, go get them.
00:35 And yeah, so that was most of it.
00:38 I mean, there was maybe a glimpse of it that was kind of like, shoot.
00:42 If it is, if it's the last time here or last time in that uniform,
00:47 I think that's a possibility.
00:48 But I think I didn't try not to get too far ahead.
00:54 It's just too hard to do that, to go there immediately
00:57 at the end of the game.
00:59 There was the one moment where Chris Jones
01:01 peeked into the pen and moved back.
01:02 And he gave a little plug.
01:04 Yeah.
01:07 Between the tap and the slide.
01:11 Yeah, that was the first play of the game.
01:13 And I really thought--
01:14 I thought my leg was broke.
01:16 But I was-- thankfully, it wasn't.
01:18 It was one of those things I thought was a little cheap,
01:21 just because I didn't think he had to finish me.
01:22 I was just-- it was already called underneath him.
01:24 And then he kind of finished me.
01:25 But again, we've talked after the game,
01:29 and even during a little break in action.
01:32 And shoot, it's all good.
01:35 It's part of it.
01:35 Some of that is good for me to get me going a little bit.
01:38 And but shoot, what a player he is now.
01:41 Talking about one of the best defensive-- he's up there.
01:43 If not one, he's a close second defensive tackles in the league.
01:47 And he's a heck of a player.
01:50 Is the one-legged game still there?
01:52 Oh, yeah.
01:53 Oh, yeah.
01:54 It's still there.
01:54 I think in a year like this, it can drain you a little bit
01:57 and beat you up.
01:58 But yeah, no, it's still there.
02:02 There's nothing like it, competing at this level,
02:05 living the dream.
02:05 And even in a situation when you're 5 and 10,
02:10 I was asked at some point this week, what's the motivation?
02:13 It's like, shoot, the motivation?
02:15 I'm 38 years old, get to play the Kansas City Chiefs
02:17 at this place?
02:18 Are you kidding me?
02:19 I don't care what the record is.
02:21 So that tells me that I still got some juice left.
02:25 And I love to prepare.
02:27 Talking to Coach Spagnuolo afterwards,
02:29 I'd never really spoken to him.
02:31 Again, I appreciate it, just that mutual respect of him
02:35 saying the challenge for preparing,
02:38 knowing the stuff that I try to get done, and likewise for him,
02:40 because he makes it dang tough.
02:42 Those kind of things are what's awesome throughout the week.
02:46 And I do still enjoy that.
02:49 So how much of that juice comes from your desire
02:51 to prepare and still go through it?
02:53 And I hear it in the press, but how much of it
02:54 now is coming down to, again, we'll
02:56 keep on your shoulders, but still come on.
02:59 Yeah, I really don't think that's there.
03:00 Because I think, again, no disrespect,
03:04 but I think it can become just cliche.
03:07 If you're 38 and you throw a bunch of interceptions,
03:09 that's what they're going to say.
03:10 Can't throw it anymore, can't throw it out,
03:11 can't throw this, arm strength.
03:13 And I almost laugh at it, because I want to go,
03:16 well, let's sit down and watch the 16 games together.
03:18 And we can see every play you want.
03:20 And I'll tell you the ones that, yeah, that was horrible.
03:22 Look at that terrible throw.
03:23 And then I'll go, now what do you want to say about this
03:25 throw?
03:26 And so on.
03:27 So there's really no chip to prove anything to anybody.
03:30 I know the people that know, know.
03:32 And that's that I still can play at a high level.
03:36 Have I made plenty of mistakes this year that hurt us
03:38 in some games?
03:39 Yes.
03:40 Were we in some games we could have overcome them?
03:42 Absolutely.
03:42 See it all over the league.
03:44 So just like today, the stats won't tell the whole story
03:47 today.
03:47 So that's why at this point in my career,
03:49 I could care less about them.
03:51 The only stat is about winning and losing.
03:53 And again, I didn't do enough this year
03:55 to help us win more football games.
03:57 And I take responsibility for that,
03:58 where in the plays and the mistakes
04:01 that I should be responsible for.
04:03 But as far as can I do it, there's no question.
04:07 Do I still want to?
04:09 Absolutely.
04:09 So if you did come back, and you're
04:12 able to kind of clean up some of those mistakes,
04:14 it kind of gets you guys in.
04:16 Do you think you guys can get back 40 wins a game?
04:18 I think there's a chance.
04:19 I think there is a lot of questions to be answered.
04:22 It's not just a matter of if I'm back, and if I play well,
04:24 we'll go win 12 games.
04:26 I think we're far from that being the just check that box,
04:31 and everything will be good.
04:32 If he doesn't turn it over, we're good.
04:34 I think that would be inaccurate.
04:37 There's a lot of question marks moving forward.
04:39 And I think as those get answered,
04:42 and how those get answered, and along with person
04:46 my personal-- that will clear up a lot of things.
04:48 Is that part of your evaluation process,
04:50 of whether or not you--
04:51 No question.
04:52 No question.
04:53 You've obviously been very focused on the moment.
04:55 Has there been times where you've
04:57 sort of taken it all in, and slowed it down,
05:00 and appreciated sort of--
05:04 Yeah, I think so.
05:05 --subsidy or career?
05:06 No question.
05:08 Whether it's exactly the end or not, which it still could be.
05:13 But either way, we're probably on 16,
05:16 playing a little par 3 with only two holes to go.
05:20 And definitely on that back stretch.
05:22 So I think I have.
05:23 And there's been times I've been a little emotional,
05:24 even at the house, talking through things,
05:27 and thinking about, man, the last blitz protection
05:30 meeting, or the last bus ride.
05:33 So those things I have gotten to every now and then.
05:36 And that's when my wife says, shoot,
05:38 just don't-- so you can try to hold it in,
05:40 and it'll all blow up at some point.
05:42 But I have allowed myself to do that.
05:44 But at the same point, go, shoot,
05:45 don't let that ruin the moment that you're in.
05:48 Just be right here, and enjoy it like I always have.
05:50 Because I can say I don't feel like I've ever
05:52 taken it for granted.
05:53 But certainly in year seven, at the end of the year,
05:56 you don't leave this game, in this situation,
05:59 feeling the same way I feel right now.
06:02 So it is a little different.
06:04 But kind of just, again, be in the present.
06:08 And that was really my whole thing about today,
06:10 is just be right here and shoot, play, go play.
06:12 And I thought we did that.
06:14 And again, that doesn't mean it's enough.
06:16 It's ultimately not enough.
06:17 But I do think that you can walk out of here
06:20 with your head held high when you fight and compete,
06:22 and do it the only way you know how.
06:24 And so that's one thing I'll never apologize for,
06:26 and never really feel ashamed of.
06:29 Because I do it the way I know how, as hard as I can do it.
06:31 And sometimes it's enough, sometimes it's not.
06:34 And that's the only way I'll continue to do it.
06:36 You mentioned this could be your last game in this uniform.
06:39 Would you consider wearing a different uniform?
06:41 Would that help you in the present yourself?
06:44 Yeah, I plan to play football.
06:47 So yeah, again, where that's going to be,
06:49 I think, will get sorted out over the next, what is it,
06:52 three months.
06:53 I guess I've never been in this position.
06:54 I usually don't even know when the league year starts
06:56 and when all those things are.
06:58 So we'll just kind of see.
07:00 Again, I'm very thankful for the 16 years.
07:02 And if there's another, I'll be thankful for that one.
07:06 But I think with the uncertainty just comes that unknown,
07:09 and kind of just has to play out over time.
07:11 If that were to happen, you have 16 years here,
07:13 five years in the off, you have a lot of stability
07:16 in your life in the middle class.
07:18 How weird would that be to walk into a brand new city
07:21 with brand new practice skills, and you
07:23 beat the whole brand new group of guys
07:24 to get to a position?
07:25 Yeah, it would be weird, no question.
07:27 I think that's the thing, too, that I enjoy the most.
07:31 I think all of you that I've talked to over the years,
07:35 I love being a teammate.
07:36 I love that.
07:37 And I love the camaraderie and just being a teammate.
07:40 The people, that's what makes it.
07:42 That's what makes this whole thing special.
07:45 So I think that's what will make it hard.
07:48 But I think we could all agree.
07:50 I mean, I'd like the people at those places, too, probably.
07:55 You'd quickly get to where you're like, shoot,
07:56 this guy reminds me of him.
07:58 You'd quickly get adapted.
08:00 And again, it's just because it's such an unknown that who
08:04 knows.
08:05 Again, I'm making no predictions by any means.
08:08 But I think that would be a hard adjustment, but probably one
08:13 that's not as hard as maybe I think, just because this
08:16 is the only place I've known.
08:17 There's been a lot of different people come through here, too.
08:19 I just hadn't left.
08:20 There are a lot of different teammates
08:22 that have become my favorites that I
08:23 didn't know eight years ago.
08:25 So I think that those kind of things
08:28 happen wherever you end up.
08:30 So at this point, retirement is going to be an option?
08:32 I don't think so.
08:33 As I stand today, as long as somebody wants me,
08:36 I'll be playing somewhere.
08:39 But I mean, shoot, in a month, I don't know.
08:42 I may be ready to put on a headset and call a ball play.
08:45 I don't know.
08:45 I really don't.
08:47 But yes, as honest as I can answer right now,
08:50 if one of 32 teams want me and it's the right situation,
08:53 and I can start that 225th game in a row,
08:57 I'll be running out there.
08:58 [INAUDIBLE]
09:02 You've seen championship games.
09:03 Do they have a look at the team as we go along?
09:06 Again, I don't want to give you a disrespectful answer.
09:08 Because I think, heck yeah, they do.
09:10 They're one of 12 that's in it.
09:11 So that's the way I see it.
09:12 They're one of 12 teams that's in it.
09:14 We've seen six seeds win it.
09:14 We've seen five seeds win it.
09:15 They're going to be a two seed.
09:16 So heck yeah, they have a chance.
09:18 I think any time you have the speed they have on offense
09:20 and a quarterback that can make every throw,
09:22 and then the defensive kind of doing this,
09:25 they've kind of been doing this over the last six weeks.
09:28 You just see it.
09:28 The way they communicate, obviously 32
09:30 is the height of a player.
09:31 29 is playing some safety now.
09:32 I've always thought 49 for them was underappreciated,
09:36 all the things he brings.
09:37 You had a guy like Suggs that still, obviously,
09:39 as I found out today, still got some juice left.
09:42 We already talked about 95 and 55.
09:44 I think the corners are solid.
09:46 So heck yeah, they can.
09:48 And I think Spagnuolo, he just keeps everybody--
09:50 he keeps you on your toes.
09:51 And I think that style of defense with those weapons,
09:54 they may give up some plays.
09:56 But they also may score the very next play because of what
09:59 they have on the offensive side.
10:00 You gave your love to some fans, some Chiefs fans back there.
10:03 There was one guy in particular back there
10:05 that you almost feel like you get
10:07 to know over however many years he's been standing right there.
10:11 I laugh because many years ago, me and Charlie Whitehurst
10:15 were going to Oklahoma Jokes.
10:17 And we were standing in lines, a long line.
10:19 And we were in there, and there was nothing but Chiefs fans
10:21 everywhere.
10:22 And here we are standing there.
10:23 And now we've been seen.
10:24 And we're standing in line.
10:25 It is a brutal line.
10:26 And we stand in there about three minutes.
10:28 And Charlie looks at me and says,
10:29 are we standing in this line?
10:30 And I go, I'm good.
10:31 Let's just go.
10:32 So we left.
10:32 So the next day, we're here at the game.
10:34 And this guy hollers at me, hey, Rivers,
10:36 let me tell you how we do it at Oklahoma Jokes.
10:38 You stand in line like everybody else.
10:40 You order.
10:40 You get your plate.
10:42 So since then, I was like, how the heck
10:43 did you know I was in there?
10:45 And then there's always just been this kind of--
10:47 he gives it to me a little bit.
10:50 And then we'll make a good play.
10:52 And he kind of goes, hey, I was--
10:53 so there's kind of been that back and forth.
10:55 And we caught eye contact at some point.
10:58 And he said, can I get those?
10:59 So I thought, what the heck if it's the last time in here?
11:03 And those gloves, who knows where they would have ended up
11:06 had I not done that over the next six months.
11:08 I wouldn't have seen them anyway.
11:10 Is it the first time you get in there?
11:11 I don't know.
11:12 Probably to an opposing fan.
11:14 Maybe.
11:14 I don't know.
11:15 With that guy.
11:16 Oh, yeah.
11:16 Yeah.
11:17 Yeah, yeah.
11:17 Yeah.
11:18 So people are saying you're interested in the NBA.
11:20 What are you proudest of?
11:21 What are the sort of--
11:23 or something else?
11:24 Yeah, I think-- and I really like
11:26 to talk about the team, the team, the team.
11:28 Because that's what's most important to me.
11:29 But I think I'll answer this individually.
11:32 I think the 224 starts in the regular season,
11:35 obviously there's however many 11 playoff games.
11:37 I think that's probably one of the most personal, most
11:40 meaningful things, being able to be out there every week.
11:43 Some of it's toughness.
11:44 Some of it's being blessed with being healthy enough.
11:48 And some of it's the guys, James Collins and Damon,
11:51 and the staff, and all the doctors, Dr. Chow,
11:53 and those guys helping me find a way to get out there.
11:56 So that's one, just from a personal standpoint,
11:59 of actually suiting up and trotting out there
12:00 every game for 200 and whatever in a row.
12:04 And I think other than that, I mean,
12:05 I think it's that I can say I gave it everything I had.
12:09 I mean, every week.
12:11 So and maybe it means an interception on 4th and 18
12:15 when you're down 10.
12:16 Because I don't care that it's going
12:19 to say two interceptions.
12:20 I really don't.
12:21 It's just like, I ain't quitting.
12:22 So I think that.
12:23 I think that.
12:24 That doing it with so many guys over 14 years.
12:30 And going to the locker room, win or lose.
12:33 And I can say, we fell short.
12:37 Or we won.
12:39 But shoot, I couldn't try it any harder.
12:43 So I think two different kind of elements there.
12:45 But I think that's the two things that come to my mind.
12:48 Ralph and.