Rivers wants to play 'a handful more years', looking forward to next stage

At 36 years old, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

While Rivers, who turns 37 in December, doesn't have a specific age he plans on retiring at, he's looking forward to the next stage of his career.

"I'm super excited about a handful more years (left playing in the NFL)," Rivers told MMQB's Albert Breer. "I don't have a number in my head."

Quarterback has become somewhat of an old man's position, with some of the league's brightest stars creeping towards the end of their careers. Tom Brady is 41, Drew Brees is 39, and 34-year-old Aaron Rodgers recently said his "minimum is 40."

Rivers, unlike his peers, says he doesn't envision himself playing well into his 40s, even though a handful more years would mean just that.

"I laugh when I hear Drew, Brady's already 41, when I hear them say mid-40s, I go, 'Y'all can have that,'" Rivers said. "I have no desire to get there. One thing I am thankful about is I know what I'm gonna be doing when I'm done. I'm gonna be coaching high school football somewhere, maybe the very next season."

Rivers is signed through the 2020 season. He was excellent in 2017, and claims his level of play will dictate when he walks away from the game.

"It could be two, my contract's up in two, but I'd like to get in that new stadium," Rivers said. "Could it be four, five? I don't know. I feel good. I don't want to hang on, but I don't feel like I'm there by any means right now. I want to stay aware, so when it does become that, I'll know. And it's a two-sided deal - they have to want me to still be here when it gets to that."