Philip Rivers to become NC State head coach in bold reunion with alma mater

Philip Rivers is on the brink of a new career path.

NC State is working to finalize a deal with the former Chargers quarterback and Wolfpack alumnus as the football program’s new head coach, multiple reports said Sunday.

Rivers, 44, would be replacing Dave Doeren, who was fired in October after a 3-4 (1-3 in the ACC) start to the season in his 14th season.

It marks Rivers’ first coaching gig at either the college or professional level.

The Decatur, Ala. native has spent the last six years serving as the head coach of St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala. The new gig also makes him the first head coach hired by a major program from a high school job since Notre Dame took in Gerry Faust in 1981.

Rivers is also the fourth former NC State player to become his ala mater’s head coach, joining Harry Hartsell (1917, 1921-23), Tal Stafford (1918) and Chuck Amato (2000-06). 

Russell Wilson also interviewed for the position at NC State this month.

Rivers, an eight-time Pro Bowler, was the quarterback for the Wolfpack in 2002, when the team won 11 games to mark their only double-digit win season in program history.

Rivers’ high school season recently came to an end when St. Michael was eliminated from the state playoffs on Friday night.

The high school went 6-4 and navigated much of the season without Rivers’ son and quarterback, Gunner Rivers, who was limited to three regular-season games after a leg injury. Gunner, a four-star recruit, is committed to NC State.

Now, he will turn to filling out his staff in Raleigh and one name that could pop up would be former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long, per The Athletic.

Rivers has stayed up to date on the game not only as a coach, but he returned to the Colts in 2025 in an effort to help save his former team’s season after an 8-2 start went off the rails.

Across three games, he threw 544 yards for four touchdowns and three interceptions. He also took five sacks.