T
he Chargers franchise has a deep and rich history. One of only 12 teams to have never won a Super Bowl, the Chargers have still had a lot of NFL legends suit up in their uniform, helping define each and every era of Chargers football. From legends like Dan Fouts, Junior Seau and Antonio Gates all the way to current stars such as Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen, there is no shortage of superstars that have donned the lightning bolt on the side of their helmet.
And earlier this week, two former Chargers legends made the shortlist of players that are eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year. Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, key players for the Chargers in the 2000s and the 2010s, are among the 128 modern-era players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Brees and Rivers’ Nomination
Brees and Rivers join Alex Smith as the three quarterbacks who are eligible for induction for the first time. That makes quarterback the position group with most amount of first ballot players. Brees played for the Chargers from 2001-05 and broke out in 2004, guiding the Chargers to an 12-4 record while finishing with 27 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. Suffering a potential career-altering shoulder injury during the 2005 season, Brees left the team after the campaign ended and signed with the New Orleans Saints, where he spent the final 15 seasons of his career and became an NFL legend. Brees is sixth on the Chargers in all-time passing.
Rivers, drafted fourth overall in 2004, played for the Chargers from 2004-19, taking over as the starting quarterback in the 2006 season after Brees left for New Orleans. Earning eight Pro Bowl selections and winning the 2013 NFL Comeback Player of Year award, Rivers cemented his legacy as the Chargers greatest quarterback ever, leaving the team as the franchise’s all-time leader in every passing category. Rivers spent his final NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 before announcing his retirement.
Could Rivers and Brees Get In?
The next step in the selection process for induction happens in October, when a screening committee reduces the list of players from 128 down to 50. Then, that group of 50 gets trimmed down to 25. In February, during Super Bowl LX, 15 will then be chosen as the finalists for induction.
In the case of Brees, he has a higher chance of getting inducted in his first year than Rivers. As accomplished as Rivers is, Brees has a Super Bowl title with the Saints and also holds four NFL records– highest completion percentage in a season (74.4% in 2018), tied for most passing touchdowns in a game (seven), most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (54) and most career 5,000 yard seasons (five). He also has 13 Pro Bowl selections, five All-Pro selections and Offensive Player of the Year awards, among many other accolades and achievements.
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