A Philip Rivers-led offense is once again making noise but the 41-year-old isn't the quarterback slinging the passes at
St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope, Ala.). That would be his son, freshman
Gunner Rivers, wearing the same No. 17 that his father and grandfather wore.
Philip Rivers was coached in high school by his father Steve before embarking on a 17-year NFL career with the Chargers and Colts. Now he is coaching his son.
Gunner, listed at 6-foot-2 and 176 pounds, has the same throwing motion as his pops, who piled up 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns in his professional career.
After getting varsity reps as an eighth grader in 2022, Gunner has taken over the starting job as a freshman and delivered.
In his debut at starter for his father at St. Michael Catholic, Gunner Rivers let if fly 55 times for 356 yards and three touchdowns. (Photo: Brad Boland)
In the season opener against Gulf Shores, Rivers threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start.
Through four games in 2023 he has 13 touchdowns against two interceptions. His 1,164 passing yards are the fourth most in Alabama according to statistics submitted to MaxPreps. In terms of yardage, he ranks third nationally among all freshman quarterbacks.
His top receiver, sophomore
Tucker Tomlinson (no relation to Philip's Hall of Fame teammate LaDainian), is ranked No. 7 in Alabama with 471 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Rivers and Tomlinson had a game to remember Aug. 31 against Chickasaw. Tomlinson had 10 receptions for 188 yards and grabbed one of six scoring strikes that Rivers threw. The freshman signal caller completed 30 of his 40 passes for 378 yards in a victory.
St. Michael Catholic hosts Satsuma (3-1) tonight.
Philip is in his third year as head coach and signed on to be the coach-in-waiting while still in the NFL in 2020. He took over in 2021 and has a 14-9 record.
As a high school quarterback at
Athens (Ala.), Philip went 21-5 in his final two years under his father Steve, who is in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Sports Hall of Fame after a 188-win career spanning 27 years.
