There will be a new player under center for the Los Angeles Chargers as the franchise and quarterback Philip Rivers decided to go their own ways on Monday.
General manager Tom Telesco, who was an executive with the Indianapolis Colts when they parted ways with Peyton Manning, explained the decision to move on from the 38-year old.
“Once we saw the way this was heading, it was in the forefront of my mind. I mean, he’s an icon for the organization and he’s done so much here. I wanted to make sure everything was done as respectfully and classy as possible. This can be a very difficult business for all of us to be in—head coaches, GMs, players. That was the thought in my mind,” Telesco said, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Telesco said the decision to move on from Rivers did not take place until last week. The Chargers’ front office had their annual meeting to outline the offseason, with the team’s quarterback situation being at the top of the list.
On Friday, after coming to a decision, Telesco called Rivers’ agent, Jimmy Sexton, to inform him of the team’s decision. Telesco then called Rivers on Saturday, officially ending the 16-year marriage.
Telesco didn’t explain why Rivers wasn’t re-signed, but the assumption could be made that his age (38) and his decline in production in a contract year were a couple reasons for the split as he threw 20 interceptions, as well as 23 turnovers – which cost the team a handful of their 11 losses.
Along with that, coach Anthony Lynn has made it clear that a mobile quarterback is required in the system that he wants to run, leaving Rivers out of the equation.
The Chargers could go a few ways to fill Rivers’ shoes. One of the options could be on the team with Tyrod Taylor, who Telesco praised in an interview on Tuesday, saying the team has a lot of faith in him. But it’s speculated that L.A. will look to add another signal-caller. The outlet to acquire one remains to be seen.
When deciding who they’re going to bring in, Telesco said that they will hopefully have many of the same traits Rivers possessed during his time with the Bolts.
“It’s going to be a little bit different,” Telesco said. I spent a lot of my career with Peyton Manning as my quarterback, and one year with Andrew Luck as the quarterback, and then seven years with Philip. But we move into a new era of Charger football. And really that’s figuratively and literally, because we’re moving into a brand-new stadium. As a football team, it’s the nature of professional football. You wish players could play forever, and I know the fans hope their stars can play forever. It just doesn’t work like that.
“But there’s an excitement getting into a new era of Charger football. And you have to build this a different way without Philip here anymore. It’s not gonna be easy, I know that, because from Philip you knew year after year after year, you got consistent play, high level play and a quarterback you could count on, every single day. Not just games, but practice. He was accountable day in, day out. It’s gonna be new here.”