Video of the longtime Chargers quarterback went viral as he exuberantly celebrated his first win as head coach of St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama an interview with Alabama Media Group.
Rivers, a native of Decatur, Alabama who played for his father Steve at Athens High School, returned to his roots after retiring from the NFL in January after 17 seasons with 256 regular-season and playoff games played and 139 wins. He had agreed to coach the Cardinals upon his retirement from pro football on May 8, 2020.
“I’ve had two childhood dreams,” Rivers said on the day he took the job. “One was to play in the NFL — and I’ve been doing that, going on my 17th year. The other was to be a high school football coach. How blessed am I to live both of these out?”
Thursday was his long-awaited debut, and everything seemed to go right for St. Michael. The Cardinals built a 27-0 first-quarter lead and cruised to a 49-0 victory over McIntosh.
After more than 20 years, between the NFL and his college career at North Carolina State, playing in front of 60,000-plus fans and millions more watching on national television, Rivers was fired up to win his debut in front of a fraction of that audience.
“It’s awesome,” Rivers told the Alabama Media Group. “I’m enjoying the heck out of it.”
He reflected on his memories as a high school player while also inviting his players to feel good about their first victory of 2021.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I tell you what, Thursday and Friday night, after playing 250-some-odd NFL games and 50-something college games, those three years at Athens High School and being around Decatur High growing up were some of my favorite memories. They’re up there in the top-10.
“I’m trying to remind these kids of that so they embrace it. Because a lot of these kids are going to play not beyond high school football … [and] I want them to appreciate experiences like this. They’re over there with their families and classmates, and they won a football game. I told them ‘be excited, be excited.’”
Rivers’ enthusiasm is infectious and will no doubt rub off on the St. Michael players. But despite his commitment to coaching, and his signed retirement papers, he hasn’t quite shut the door on playing again.
“I’m just going to stay ready,” Rivers told the Los Angeles Times on August 3. “I want to make sure I’m very clear: I’m not predicting I will play in December, or January for that matter. One, you’ve got to have somebody who wants you, and two, it’s got to be right. But I have not completely ruled that out.”
