ESPN: Philip Rivers Is NC State’s Top Candidate for Football Coach

NC State has identified former star quarterback Philip Rivers as its top candidate to lead the football program, ESPN reported Sunday.

ESPN reported that Rivers emerged as the early favorite to replace Dave Doeren, who was fired Oct. 24. Another former Wolfpack quarterback, Russell Wilson, was also in discussions about the position, according to ESPN.

Rivers has spent six seasons as coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. ESPN noted that he has never coached at the college level but led the Cardinals to the state playoff semifinals in the previous two seasons.

ESPN reported that the 44-year-old candidate informed NC State officials he wanted to finish the current high school season. St. Michael’s season concluded Friday night.

Rivers played 17 seasons in the NFL, spending all but one year with the Chargers before retiring after the 2020 season. ESPN added that Rivers briefly came out of retirement last year to start three games for the Indianapolis Colts following injuries to Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard.

During his playing career from 2000 to 2003, Rivers broke nearly every NC State and ACC record by throwing for 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns. ESPN reported that he led the Wolfpack to four consecutive bowl games under coach Chuck Amato, winning three of them. Amato died last month at the age of 80.

Rivers could soon be joined by his son, Gunner Rivers, who committed to play for NC State on Feb. 23. ESPN reported that Gunner Rivers threw for 10,847 yards and 119 touchdowns during his high school career before suffering a knee injury that ended his season early.

NC State has identified former Wolfpack and NFL QB Philip Rivers as its top candidate to be the school's next head football coach, sources told Mark Schlabach and @PeteThamel. https://t.co/7FRvnAntaA

— Post by @ESPNCFB on X

ESPN noted that Rivers previously interviewed for the Buffalo Bills head coaching vacancy in January before removing himself from that search.

Philip Rivers is NC State's top coaching candidate. The former Wolfpack and NFL QB is the school's top choice for its next head coach, sources told ESPN. https://t.co/6KKjKwa3jq pic.twitter.com/xRjKji3v3r

— Post by @Grimillionaire on X