Another NFL season has arrived, bringing with it the familiar routine of excitement and anticipation. If you’re reading this, you likely know that the San Diego Chargers have relocated to Los Angeles, from a city often praised for its livability. Franchise quarterback Philip Rivers, who has been with the Chargers for 13 years, opted to keep his family in San Diego, eschewing the move to minimize disruption for his eight children. Instead, he endures a lengthy daily commute between his home and the team’s new Los Angeles headquarters.
This three-hour round trip means a significant loss of time for a professional athlete. To make his journey more efficient, Rivers transformed a Cadillac Escalade into a mobile office and film room. This allows him to review game film while navigating traffic on the busy 5 freeway. Though designed primarily for work, the vehicle includes luxurious features, making it an ideal spot to watch games or movies during his travels.
In addition to having more children than Tom Brady has Super Bowl rings, Rivers is known for his frugal lifestyle. Despite amassing nearly $200 million throughout his career, he drives a 2008 Ford F-250 and favors simple cowboy boots and Western-style dress shirts over high-end fashion brands. Initially, he considered converting the family’s Sprinter van into his mobile office, but his wife disapproved.
“My two main priorities are family time and my preparation for the team,” Rivers stated. “I wasn’t going to compromise either of those significantly. I needed a solution that allowed me to get home around 6 to 7 pm, just as I have for the past 11 years, while still enabling me to analyze all the film I used to study.”
He added, “I don’t want anyone thinking, ‘He’s stuck in a car all day, maybe that’s why he struggled.’ That’s not the case.”
To get the best setup, Rivers enlisted Becker Automotive Design to customize a Cadillac Escalade to his specifications. This included a large television, a back seat roomy enough for his 6-foot-4 frame, and a “cooler” for hydration. Although he initially considered modifying a less expensive used model, he ultimately opted for a vehicle he could resell later.
The seats of the Escalade are even marked with the jersey numbers of Rivers and his backup, Kellen Clemens. However, it remains unclear what the etiquette is when one player occupies the other’s designated spot. Nevertheless, the luxurious arrangement makes him wish for longer drives.
“There may even be days when we’re hoping for some traffic because we have work to do,” Rivers remarked..
