The Los Angeles Chargers Start Strong, A Force to be Reckoned With in the NFL

Philip Rivers is a retired NFL quarterback born on December 8, 1981, in Decatur, Alabama.[1][2][3] Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 228 pounds, he starred at North Carolina State University from 2000 to 2003, earning ACC Rookie of the Year in 2000, ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, and ACC Athlete of the Year in 2004, along with All-ACC honors.[2] Selected fourth overall by the New York Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft, Rivers was immediately traded to the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning.[1][2] He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers (2004-2019), becoming an eight-time Pro Bowler (2006, 2008-2011, 2013, 2016-2018), NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2013, and leading the league in passer rating (2008), passing touchdowns (co-leader, 2008), passing yards (2010), and completion percentage (2013).[2][5] He holds over 30 Chargers franchise records and became the ninth quarterback to reach 120 regular-season wins, extending a 14-season streak of 3,000-plus passing yards.[1][5] In 2020, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent, achieving milestones like surpassing Dan Marino on the all-time touchdown passes list.[1] After 17 NFL seasons, Rivers retired in early 2021 following the Colts' playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.[1][2][4] He briefly considered a 2021 comeback but did not return.[4] As of recent reports, Rivers coaches football at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, maintaining relevance through his coaching role and Hall of Fame induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2022).[2] His career legacy includes consistent production and a distinctive playing style marked by toughness and precision.[1][4]

Melvin Gordon III (born April 13, 1993, in Kenosha, Wisconsin) is an American professional football running back currently with the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin, where he set a Big Ten rushing record with 2,587 yards and averaged 184.8 rushing yards per game, one of the best marks in NCAA history[6][8]. Gordon was drafted in the first round (15th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played for the Chargers and their successor franchise, the Los Angeles Chargers, from 2015 to 2019. In 2020, he signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos, where he led the team in rushing yards during the 2020 season with 986 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2021, he shared backfield duties effectively with Javonte Williams, rushing for 918 yards and eight touchdowns. Gordon re-signed with the Broncos in 2022 but was released after 10 games, tallying 318 rushing yards and two touchdowns that season[1][2][3]. In November 2022, Gordon joined the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad and was part of the team that won Super Bowl LVII, earning a Super Bowl ring despite not playing in the championship game or regular season games for them[1]. In July 2023, Gordon signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. After initially being released and re-signed to the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster and scored his first rushing touchdown with the Ravens in Week 17 of the 2023 season. He played four games for Baltimore during that season[1][4]. Over his NFL career, Gordon has been recognized as a two-time Pro Bowler and is known for his combination of power, speed, and receiving ability out of the backfield. His recent moves reflect a veteran player continuing to contribute as a running back and depth option in the league[1][4].

Geno Smith, born Eugene Cyril Smith III on October 10, 1990, in Miramar, Florida, is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL.[1][4][5][7][8] He rose to prominence at West Virginia University, where he started 39 of 44 games from 2009 to 2012, compiling a 26-13 record with 11,662 passing yards, 98 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions.[2][3][4] In 2011, he earned Discover Orange Bowl MVP honors, setting multiple bowl records in a 70-33 win over Clemson, including six passing touchdowns and 407 passing yards.[3] Selected by the New York Jets in the second round (39th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith debuted as a rookie, becoming the first Jets quarterback to throw for 300-plus yards in a game (331 vs. Buffalo).[1][2][3][4] His early career included stints with the Jets (2013-2016), New York Giants (2017, where he became the first Black starter for the franchise), and Los Angeles Chargers (2018).[1][4] He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, re-signing in 2022, and emerged as their full-time starter.[2][4] Smith's breakout came in 2022, when he led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%), set a Seahawks single-season passing record with 4,282 yards, and earned Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year, PFWA Comeback Player of the Year, PFWA Most Improved Player, and his first Pro Bowl selection.[1][2][4][7] He repeated as a Pro Bowl honoree in 2023 and broke his own Seahawks yardage record in 2024 with 4,320 yards.[2] Since 2022, he ranks top-five in NFL completion percentage (68.5%) and passing yards (12,226), with 27 wins as a starter.[7] As of 2026, at age 35 and in his 13th NFL season, Smith brings veteran leadership to the Raiders, with career stats including over 19,000 passing yards and 105 touchdowns through 2024.[2][5][8] (298 words)