Philip Rivers first announced his retirement from the NFL on January 20, 2021, so he has been retired for about five years as of early 2026 in terms of actually playing. However, he did not officially retire as a member of the Chargers until July 21–22, 2025, which means he has been “retired as a Charger” for only a few months.

Quick Scoop

  • Philip Rivers announced he was retiring from football on January 20, 2021, after his 2020 season with the Indianapolis Colts.
  • He had already stopped playing in the NFL since the end of the 2020 season, so his on‑field retirement effectively dates back to early 2021.
  • In July 2025, Rivers signed a one‑day contract and released an emotional video to retire as a Charger , formally closing his 17‑year NFL career with the franchise where he spent 16 seasons.

So, how long has he been retired?

  • From a “no longer playing in the NFL” standpoint: about 5 years, since his 2020 season ended and his January 2021 announcement.
  • From an “officially retired as a Charger” standpoint: only since July 2025, which is less than a year ago as of early 2026.

In fan and forum discussions, people usually mean the 2021 announcement when they ask “how long has Philip Rivers been retired” , but recent chatter in 2025–2026 often brings up that “second” retirement moment with the Chargers as the true ceremonial finale.

TL;DR:

  • Retired from playing : announced January 20, 2021 → about five years.
  • Officially retired as a Charger : July 2025 → under a year.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.