The San Diego Chargers will be keeping franchise quarterback Philip Rivers for the years to come after signing him to a four-year extension contract that will make him stay until through the 2019 season of the National Football League (NFL).
Rivers' signing was first announced by the Chargers through a tweet, "BREAKING NEWS: We've signed Philip Rivers to a four-year contract extension through 2019."
The 33-year-old quarterback's new deal will earn him $83.25 million with a guaranteed $65 million, according to respective reports by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.
Rivers was set to enter the final year of his previous deal this 2015 season that would have paid him a total of $15.75 million.
The new pact will assure that Rivers will continue playing for the Chargers even if they pursue a move to Los Angeles.
There are reports that the Chargers franchise plans a move to Los Angeles after failed attempts on talks for a new stadium in San Diego.
ESPN reported that the Chargers teamed up with the Oakland Raiders in planning of building a stadium in Carson, California if they will be unable to have new stadiums in their current areas.
The franchise's possible move to a new location was reportedly a factor in Rivers' decision of playing out the remaining year of his previous deal before he was signed to a new contract.
Rivers was acquired by the Chargers via trade during the 2004 NFL Draft and got his first starting job in the 2006 season when quarterback Drew Brees left the team.
The five-time Pro Bowler became San Diego's starter since then and has helped the team to five playoff appearances that included a trip to the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship Game in 2007.
Unfortunately, they were unable to make the cut last season as they finished the regular season with a 9–7 record.
Last season, Rivers completed 66.5 percent of his passes (379 of 570) and threw for 4,286 yards and 31 touchdowns.
In his entire NFL career, Rivers now has 252 touchdowns and is just two touchdowns away from tying the Chargers' record for the most number of such in team history set by Dan Fouts.
