Chargers' Rivers: 'I don't think I'm gonna have a helmet on when I'm 45'

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers may be enjoying a resurgent year in terms of personal performance while helping the Chargers hold a share of first place in the AFC West, but at the age of 35, he's not letting the success mislead him when it comes to how much longer he'll be playing.

“I don’t have a number in mind,” Rivers told the PFT PM podcast on Wednesday. “I can tell you right now it ain’t gonna be 45. I have no desire for it to be that long. I hope I help lead my son’s high school team to a state championship by the time I’m 45. I don’t think I’m gonna have a helmet on when I’m 45.”

Rivers has improved his completion percentage, his pass rating, and his average yards per attempt from last season. Through 12 games, he's thrown for 3,292 yards and 21 touchdowns with a modest seven interceptions.

Rivers has two years left on his current contract with the Chargers at a total base salary of $21 million. With the Chargers yet to draft an apparent replacement for their longtime franchise quarterback, Rivers is keen to remain a part of the team for whatever length of time may be left in his career.

"As we sit today I certainly hope so. I certainly hope to. It’s been an interesting transition with the move up north but I think I speak for my wife and my children, they would all say it’s gone smoother than anticipated thus far. Hopefully it’s a handful more years,” he said.