Philip Rivers takes over
Philip Rivers has signed a five-year contract to become the head football coach at NC State, his alma mater, ESPN Deportes reported on November 13, 2026. The university’s board of directors finalized the agreement following a search process in which Rivers emerged as the favorite to replace Dave Doeren, who was fired on October 24.
“I feel honored and very humbled to be the next head football coach at North Carolina State University,” Rivers said in a statement reported by ESPN Deportes. “In many ways, I feel like I’m coming home.”
“Aquí es donde todo comenzó para mí, cuando era un joven de 18 años proveniente de Alabama; regresar ahora a este gran lugar como entrenador en jefe es algo que no puedo expresar con palabras”, dijo Rivers.
Athletic director Boo Corrigan pursued the former NFL quarterback as the primary candidate from the early stages of the search. Another former Wolfpack and NFL quarterback, Russell Wilson, also participated in discussions for the vacancy.
Rivers spent six seasons building the football program from scratch at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. Under his guidance, the Cardinals reached the state semifinals in both 2024 and 2025.
“Here I gave it my all as a player for 51 games, and I’ll give it my all as a coach,” Rivers told ESPN Deportes.
“Es innegable que esto requerirá mucho trabajo duro, pero no le tememos al esfuerzo”, afirmó Rivers. “Espero con ansias ponerme manos a la obra cada día, junto a un cuerpo técnico increíble y un grupo de jugadores dedicados a buscar la victoria incansablemente”.
During his playing days in Raleigh from 2000 to 2003 under head coach Chuck Amato—who died last month at the age of 80—Rivers set nearly every program and ACC passing record. He accumulated 13,484 passing yards and 95 touchdowns, leading the Wolfpack to four consecutive postseason appearances and three bowl wins.
“Philip Rivers is a unique case and the right person to guide the NC State football program into its next stage,” Corrigan said in a statement reported by ESPN Deportes.
“Sus logros como jugador, tanto a nivel universitario como profesional, hablan por sí mismos”, aseguró Corrigan. “Sin embargo, a lo largo de este proceso de búsqueda, lo que más me impresionó fue su excepcional capacidad de liderazgo, su carácter, su forma de conectar con las personas y su visión para este programa”.
The new coach’s son, Gunner Rivers, committed to play for NC State on February 23, 2026. Ranked 168th in the SC Next 300, the younger Rivers threw for 10,847 yards and 119 touchdowns at St. Michael before a knee injury ended his high school career.
Rivers completed his 17-year NFL career—spending all but one season with the Chargers—before initially retiring after the 2020 campaign. He returned briefly last year to make three starts for the Indianapolis Colts after injuries sidelined Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard.
Rivers will be formally introduced as head coach on Monday.
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