Watt's homage, Mack Hollins channels Stone Cold, more: Best of NFL Week 14 arrivals. Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) shakes hands with quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) walk back to the locker room after the Houston Texans 41-38 loss after the fourth quarter of an.
Philip Rivers on Wednesday announced his retirement following a 17-season NFL career that almost certainly will land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
First reported by Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Rivers’ retirement was confirmed by the quarterback himself in a statement originally shared by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Philip Rivers’ statement to ESPN is dadgum tremendous: pic.twitter.com/30KaEFGy0X
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2021The fact that Rivers peppered his retirement statement with country-fried words like “dadgummit” and “y’all” really speaks to the quirky, down-home personality the 39-year-old cultivated during his career.
Once word spread throughout the NFL world that Rivers was hanging up his cleats for good, well-wishes and remembrances began to flood social media. Among those sharing a fond memory or two about their interactions with Rivers both on and off the field was Houston Texans star J.J. Watt.
The best part of Watt’s social media dispatch is how he amended his original tweet to change “hell of a” to “heckuva,” which without question was a nod to Rivers’ aversion to cussing despite being known as one of the most notorious trash talkers in the NFL.
Highlights of Rivers’ relentless — but G-rated — smack talk quickly began to surface on Twitter once his retirement was made official as well.
Philip Rivers and his A+ trash talk are retiring from the NFL.
We'll miss it.
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/2xjMkBGWfl
The mic’d up king himself, Philip Rivers! Surely we’re going to miss his trash talk on the field!
(Via @sportingnews)#NFL#NFLTwitterpic.twitter.com/a4BoN13lWn
J.j. Watt Contract
— The Amateurs (@TheAmateursID) January 20, 2021There will never be another player like Philip Rivers. Gonna miss his competitiveness and trash talk. #PhilipRiverspic.twitter.com/I0p4MqBq2g
J.j. Watt
— Joe DiTullio (@DiTullioJoe) January 20, 2021While Rivers’ first post-retirement stop will involve him fulfilling his dream of serving as a high school football coach in his native Alabama, which has long been known, odds are the fiery competitor will make a trip to Canton, Ohio, in a few years for his enshrinement.
J.j. Watt Mom
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