Philip Rivers
When I went to college is really when it became my own. I had to get up out of that dorm room and go to church, go to mass on Sunday. That's when I took ownership of my faith.Collection: Faith
When we went to mass that first Sunday after moving to a new place, that was where we felt at home and were able to say, 'well, home is anywhere, it doesn't matter where we live because we have the faith.'Collection: Faith
Faith, family, and football is how I prioritize my life. And they all go together, but they go in that order.Collection: Faith
Football is one of the most popular sports in the country, and there are many reasons for this. You can take so much from football and apply it to life in general. Just some of those things are goal-setting, preparation, teamwork, perseverance and discipline.Collection: Sports
There's a fine line between being careful and careless.
One of my favorite parts of this game is being a teammate.
I'm trying to not get too caught up in what I can't control.
Life is too short to just go through the motions.
You don't want to play the whole game careful, but you certainly don't want to play careless.
The numbers don't always tell the whole story.
There is nothing you can substitute for reps and carries in a game.
Too many times we think we've fallen too far from God or we're not worthy.
My faith has always been very important to me.
There's so many gifts from the faith to appreciate and it strikes people differently, but the one-ness of the Church wherever you are, Raleigh, San Diego, Alabama. Every place we were was home because the Catholic Church is the same everywhere.
Only by God's mercy and grace. We aren't worthy, we're all sinners, but we are because of Jesus dying for us.
I think that you first have to understand that our sexuality is a gift that God has given us. Then you grow in that respect and love with your spouse or girlfriend to-be-wife. You respect her! Then you realize you're loving their heart, their soul and you grow together.
I take the role of leadership as the most important job I have. Yes, it's the passes and all the different things you have to do, but it's leading and it's in the huddle and it's in the weight room and the meeting rooms. It's that role I think comes first.
I don't ever try to sound like, 'it's a piece of cake. Be chaste 'til your married.' But you strive and battle. It's a battle.
It's funny, because it's always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, but I was concerned about the games being played on Sundays. I love to play football but wanted to be able to attend Mass as well.
Once I've received the Eucharist, then I'm prepared to go out and play.
My father converted from being Southern Baptist when I was very young. He was determined that we get to Mass every Sunday, which served as the foundation for everything else. You simply do not miss Mass. Period. When the father of the family says we go, then we go.
Cool under pressure can be misinterpreted. I'm fired up, but in my mind, I'm calm. Here comes the next play, hurry up, let's go.
I hope I help lead my son's high school team to a state championship by the time I'm 45. I don't think I'm gonna have a helmet on when I'm 45.
It's my favorite part of the preparation. When we get a pressure figured out and pick it up, those are the plays that fire me up the most.
I knew as long as I stayed focused on my priorities, I would be ready for life's ups and downs.
Discover your passion and do it to the best of your ability.
I always believe, why wouldn't you want to play the best?
To me, any time you're playing a Peyton Manning-led football team, there's a challenge - but that's what you dream about growing up as a kid.
There's obviously games and a history you have with guys that maybe you're a little more fired up to let them know if maybe you beat them on a play.
I don't think it's my job or anything that I owe somebody. But it is nature - coaching - and I like to think I'm pretty charitable in the sense that I like to help people out, share and talk football.
I play with the same energy, passion and fire that I played with as a 10-year-old in north Alabama, and I'll continue to play that way. I think sometimes that's misrepresented. There's nothing I say out there that I can't say to my mom, wife or daughters. It's all clean.
Look, I'm my own worst critic. I've made mistakes in areas that I need to improve - most notably, turning the ball over.
My big, growing family keeps everything balanced and grounded.
In certain systems, receivers are just an X receiver or a Z receiver, and they just have to learn this route on this play.
I've been able to have some longevity here with the Chargers. It is unique.
To be honest with you, I love the fans. I mean, I really do.
I never intended to be a running quarterback.
Not scoring in the red zone and turning it over, man, that gets you beat.
If you knew what you were doing, that it would hinder you, you wouldn't do it.
I think all 32 teams have the goal of winning a championship, that goes without saying.
You have to give yourself a chance to get in the postseason.
I think we can keep people off-balance and ultimately we have to go score points, score one more point than the other team.
You want our team to have the best chance to win.
My happiness is not going to be driven solely on whether we win a Super Bowl or not.
I know what I'm about. My teammates know, my family knows, everything else, I can't worry about.
When it stops being fun, that's when I'll stop playing.
Early in the year, you never know how teams are going to be.
Sometimes getting hit in the mouth ain't all bad. It can even make you respond in the right way.
You never want to see someone not at their best.
You can sit and imagine what it is like to go into a hostile stadium, or what it's like to play for the AFC championship, but you never know until you do it.