Philip Rivers Named NC State Head Coach, Reports Say

Former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers has agreed to become the head coach of the North Carolina State University football team, according to reports from The Athletic.

The transition marks a return to the Raleigh campus for the program’s most prolific passer, who previously played for the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2003.

The appointment follows the late October firing of Dave Doeren, who led the program for 14 seasons. As of the decision, the university board must still approve the hiring.

If finalized, Rivers would become the fourth NC State alumnus to lead the team and the first coach since John Van Liew in 1930 to jump directly from the high school ranks to the college head coaching position.

“It’s the NC State story,” Rivers told AL.com regarding his decision to pursue the role. “It’s a love for that place, so everything is a little different.”

A Career Defined by Longevity and Records

Rivers arrived at NC State in 2000 after finishing his high school requirements early. Under head coach Chuck Amato, he started 51 games, throwing for 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns. His collegiate career culminated in his selection as the ACC Player of the Year in 2003, the same season he finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. The university retired his No. 17 jersey before his final home game.

In the 2004 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Rivers fourth overall before trading him to the San Diego Chargers in a deal involving Eli Manning.

Rivers spent two seasons behind Drew Brees before taking over the starting role in 2006. He remained the Chargers’ starter through 2020, missing no regular-season games during that 15-year span—the second-longest consecutive start streak for a quarterback in NFL history.

Over his professional career, Rivers earned eight Pro Bowl selections and led the league in touchdown passes in 2008. Despite his success, which included 63,984 career passing yards and 425 touchdowns, he never appeared in a Super Bowl. His NFL career ended following a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

Transition to Coaching

After retiring from the NFL in January 2021, Rivers began coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He won 12 and 13 games in consecutive seasons during his tenure there. In 2024 and 2025, the team reached the state semifinals. Rivers also interviewed for a head coaching vacancy with the Buffalo Bills in January 2025 but withdrew his name from consideration shortly thereafter.

The move to Raleigh is personal, as his eldest son, Gunner Rivers, is set to join the NC State program as a four-star quarterback recruit in the 2027 class. Gunner Rivers is expected to wear his father’s retired No. 17 jersey at Carter-Finley Stadium, the first time the number will be worn since Philip Rivers departed the program.

Questions Surrounding the Transition

The move to college football presents a shift for Rivers, who has no prior experience coaching at the university level. While he has demonstrated success at the high school level, he must now adapt his methods to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The timeline for the official transition remains subject to the university board’s approval process. With his son Gunner Rivers joining the team, the focus for the program shifts to how Rivers will implement his coaching philosophy at the collegiate level at NC State.