Owner Dean Spanos wants to keep Chargers, Philip Rivers in San Diego

Jim Corbett | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption AFC coaches roundtable: Will Rivers 'retire a Charger'? AFC head coaches sat down for a roundtable discussion with reporters during the NFL's annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

PHOENIX — San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos is hopeful of keeping his franchise and franchise quarterback in San Diego for the long run.

With the possibility of the team relocating to the Los Angeles market, Spanos told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday that his main goal is to work out an agreement with San Diego that would keep the Chargers in the city they've called home since 1961.

"Our goal is to try and stay in San Diego, but we're waiting to see what happens with the plan the city comes back with," Spanos said during a break at the owners meetings. "They had said they would make some sort of proposal in May.

"San Diego is a great city. I've been there over half my life. ... My kids were raised there. So I hope they come up with something that we can make it work."

Spanos added emphatically that he also has no intention of trading Philip Rivers, whose contract expires after the 2015 season. Spanos has every intent of reaching a long-term extension to enable the quarterback, now 33, to retire as a Charger.

Finding a way to keep the Bolts from moving north to L.A. could go a long way towards satisfying Rivers. The five-time Pro Bowler told The San Diego Union-Tribune last week that he is keeping his options open and would play out a deal scheduled to pay him $15.75 million this season as he awaits clarity on the team's 2016 location and competitive structure.

Rivers and his wife have seven children, and he is a man of strong conviction when it comes to what is best for his family.

Spanos said he, general manager Tom Telesco and coach Mike McCoy have made it clear to Rivers that they "would like to do an extension with him. We want him to be our quarterback. And we want him to retire a San Diego Charger.

"Hopefully, that will all come to fruition at some point in time."

Spanos said Telesco and McCoy met with Rivers in the last two weeks.

"It's up to Philip," Spanos said. "You can't win without a quarterback."

Spanos was asked about trade speculation suggesting the Chargers could move Rivers in the upcoming draft, perhaps to the Tennessee Titans where former San Diego offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is now head coach.

"No, there's nothing on our radar that's at work," Spanos said. "We're focused on the season."

Rivers fought through rib and back issues down the stretch in 2014 to complete 66.5% of his passes for 31 touchdowns with 18 interceptions. The Chargers finished 9-7 but just missed postseason.

"We love Philip Rivers as our franchise quarterback," McCoy said during the AFC coaches breakfast. "Our goal we've set all along since Tom (Telesco) and I have been here is that Philip is going to retire a San Diego Charger.

"That's what we believe, and we're looking forward to him having a great 2015 season. And the last two years he's shown what he can do in this system, and we're looking forward to play even better this year.

"He's a great quarterback. We're very fortunate to have him."

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