Philip Rivers is 42 years old and hasn't taken a hit in an NFL game since the 2020 season ... but according to Shawne Merriman, the dude STILL has aspirations of getting under center again.
The former Chargers superstar made the revelation in a chat with TMZ Sports earlier this month ... saying he knows for a fact that his good pal and former Bolts teammate wants another shot in the NFL.
"That's why he hasn't retired," Merriman said of the quarterback.
In fact, Shawne tells us he thinks Rivers could potentially play not just one more season .