Exclusive Q&A: Chargers QB Philip Rivers discusses Father's Day, the upcoming NFL season and more
With Father's Day around the corner, Gillette is putting the spotlight back on dads with its "Go Ask Dad" campaign, which encourages guys, no matter where they are or what they're doing, to go ask dad.
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a close relationship with his dad, and is a father of eight, so the video below definitely resonates with him.
To support father and son connections, Gillette has partnered with the National Center for Fathering, a non-profit organization centered on fostering the relationships between fathers and sons. Gillette will help onboard more dads into their Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program, which will directly impact up to 55,000 teens in high schools across the country.
Rivers took some time to hang out with AOL Sports and discussed Gillette's campaign for Father's Day, his NFL career and much more.
Q: As a father of eight, how much fun has it been to work on this campaign?
A: It's been really cool. It's the perfect fit. We're inching up on Father's Day and the 'Go Ask Dad' campaign puts the spotlight on dad and encourages you to go to dad for advice on anything. It's not the same today as it used to be, asking dad for advice. So this campaign is great to encourage that. I'm 35 and I still ask dad about little things. And I want my kids and I to have a relationship where they can come to me. It's really a great campaign and I'm happy to be part of it.
Q: What are some of your best memories growing up with your dad?
A: He was the high school coach. As soon as I was old enough to comprehend it all, I was his water boy. Then I was his quarterback. I been playing 12 years in the NFL now and those are still some of my best memories. Even now I call him.
Q: What lessons did you learn from your dad that you want to pass on to your kids?
A: One thing was simple -- he always was adamant that you didn't say 'yeah.' It was, 'yes' or 'yes, sir.' Common courtesy, I guess. And this is general, but best way to sum it up -– If your'e gonna do something, do it all the way. If you're gonna mow the grass, do it right. Make your bed, do it the right way.
Q: Is it hard to be away from home so often?
A: You know, we have road games, 10 of them if you include preseason, and sometimes for us in San Diego, because of where we are, we have to leave on Fridays. They're long weekends. But only 10 weekends is not too bad. Thankfully there's Facetime and all that nowadays. With siblings, there's plenty going on in the house. But there's nothing better than coming home after road trip, win or lose. The older ones now care whether we win or lose. It feels right to come home.
Q: What are the ages of your kids?
A: 13, 11, 9, 8, 6, 4, 2, 7 months.
Q: It seems the Chargers have a couple reasons to believe this coming year will be a lot better than last. Are you looking forward to the season?
A: I am excited. Like, most teams in the offseason, they all think they're going to have good year. But we really are better. We're healthy. We had so many guys hurt. Plus, we're going to have Bosa, linebackers who fly around, and we did a nice job in free agency. I really think we're an improved team. We're certainly capable of flipping our record. We're capable of doing it.
Q: Do you fear suffering concussions or any other kind of trauma now, which could hamper the next chapter of your life once football is over?
A: I'm certainly sensitive to it and want to be careful. And I certainly never want to see anybody go through it. I think the position I play, my head isn't in much danger. The only thing I would say, and I'd never disrespect players who suffer injuries, is this: we sign up to play. We decide to play the game. It's not something we don't know or don't releaize. Things come with different jobs.
Q: What's the best Father's Day gift you ever received?
A: Definitely drawings. They spent time on it. Those are the ones you get from young ones. I had a cool shirt one year with all their hand prints. I guess I just like all the creative stuff.
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