Philip Rivers
A quarterback who played with a fiery, unorthodox style and unshakeable consistency, starting 252 consecutive games and throwing for over 63,000 yards.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American football player·Birthday: December 8·Millennials
Biography
Philip Rivers arrived in the NFL with a sidearm delivery and a competitive snarl that became his trademarks. Drafted by the New York Giants in 2004, he was immediately traded to the San Diego Chargers, where he spent the next 16 seasons as the franchise's fiery heartbeat. Operating behind a line of scrimmage he treated like his personal command post, Rivers directed offenses with a gunslinger's mentality and a coach's intellect, his loud celebrations and audible tirades a constant soundtrack. His tenure in San Diego and later Los Angeles was defined by remarkable statistical production and heartbreaking playoff near-misses, a paradox that never dimmed his passion. After a final season with the Indianapolis Colts, he retired as one of the most prolific passers in league history, leaving behind a legacy of toughness, volume, and a singular, unforgettable on-field persona.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Philip was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Philip Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Philip's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Started 252 consecutive regular season games, the second-longest streak for a quarterback in NFL history.
- Retired ranked fifth all-time in NFL career passing yards with 63,440.
- Selected to eight Pro Bowls over his 17-year starting career.
- Led the NFL in passing yards in 2010 and in touchdown passes in 2008.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Tiffany, have ten children.
He played his entire final NFL season without missing a start despite tearing his ACL in the playoffs the previous year.
He is now the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.
He was a standout basketball player in high school in Alabama.
“I love to play. I love to compete. I love to be in the arena.”
