(Orchard Park) Philip Rivers was interviewed by the Buffalo Bills for their head coaching vacancy on Friday.
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It was a new twist in recent months for one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history.
The 44-year-old Rivers has no NFL coaching experience, having only been a high school head coach in his native Alabama. Last month, he ended five years of retirement to finish the season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Rivers started three games, all losses, in a failed attempt to help the Colts make the playoffs.
Rivers was the fourth candidate to be interviewed since the Bills’ recruiting process began Wednesday. Sean McDermott was fired Monday despite a 98-50 record and eight playoff appearances in nine years.
The Bills became the 10e team to have to replace its head coach this season.
The Bills also met with former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who previously served as the Colts’ offensive coordinator. Current offensive coordinator Joe Brady and current defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo also went through the hiring process.
PHOTO DOUG MURRAY, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joe Brady
Further interviews are planned this weekend, as part of the recruiting process led by general manager Brandon Beane. Quarterback Josh Allen is participating in this process and meeting with candidates.
Owner Terry Pegula decided to fire McDermott after a 33-30 overtime loss at Denver in the AFC semifinals. McDermott led the Bills to seven straight 10-win seasons, but he never guided the team to the Super Bowl.
Pegula felt Buffalo had hit what he called “the playoff wall” under McDermott. The Bills became the first NFL team to win a playoff game six years in a row without appearing in the Super Bowl.
Rivers was a mentor to Allen, and the two men remained close.
“Philip is one of the greatest players of all time,” Allen said last month, when Rivers came out of retirement. We’ll see. I support him because he is a great person. »
Rivers played for 17 seasons before initially retiring in 2021 and taking over the football program at St. Michael’s Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. His last playoff game was the Colts’ loss to the Bills in the first playoff round of the 2020 season.
Rivers joined the Colts after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon and while junior backup Riley Leonard was recovering from a right knee injury.
He spent his first 16 seasons with the Chargers and set team records with 59,271 air yards and 397 touchdown passes. His 63,984 passing yards rank eighth in NFL history, and he is sixth with 425 touchdown passes.
