North Carolina State has made it official: Philip Rivers is the program’s next head coach.
The school announced the hire after Rivers quickly surfaced as a leading candidate once NC State moved on from Dave Doeren, who spent 14 seasons with the Wolfpack. On3 Sports reported last Sunday that the school was finalizing a deal with Rivers, and now the move is done.
Rivers arrives with a coaching résumé that is light on experience but heavy on intrigue. He has worked with his sons’ high school program, but he has not coached at the major college or professional level.
Even so, his climb as a coaching name has happened fast. He interviewed for the Bills’ head coaching job last offseason before withdrawing from the search in January.
The connection to NC State runs deep. Rivers played for the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2003 before becoming a first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. His son is committed to play quarterback for NC State in 2027.
Rivers, 44, was originally drafted by the Giants in 2004 and later traded to the Chargers in the deal for Eli Manning. He played the final season of his five-year, $99 million contract, a deal that included $65 million guaranteed, and then was allowed to leave in free agency after 16 seasons in San Diego.
He signed a one-year contract with the Colts for 2020 and was set to become an unrestricted free agent again in 2021. Rivers retired after that 2020 season, then coached high school football before a surprise return with the Colts at the end of the 2025 season.
In 2025, Rivers played in three games and completed 58 of 92 passes for 544 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Across his career, Rivers appeared in 247 games and finished with a 64.9 percent completion rate, 63,440 passing yards, 425 touchdown passes and 212 interceptions. He also ran for 601 yards and three scores over 17 years and earned eight Pro Bowl selections.
In Other News...
Colts Secondary Finally Gets A Lift Before A Crucial Dolphins Test
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There is still plenty for the Colts to monitor, though, with several players limited or sidelined and edge defender Arden Key just beginning his 21-day practice window after a hamstring injury. Miami has its own availability issues heading into the game, including starter Aaron Brewer being ruled out and Chris Bell also on the injury report, so both teams are walking into this one with some uncertainty still hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Fans Will Want To See Why San Francisco Pivoted Away
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Keenan Allens arrival adds another layer to the picture, especially after Shanahan had previously floated him as a trade target while the 49ers were initially linked to Josh Downs. For Indianapolis, it is a reminder of how quickly the market can shift when a contender decides it wants a proven veteran instead of waiting on a different fit. The Colts may not control what San Francisco does next, but they will certainly notice how the 49ers chose to pivot. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A New Fantasy Name Fans Should Notice
With several big-name fantasy options sidelined this week, the ripple effects are opening up value in places that usually dont draw much attention. The matchup-based DFS conversation has turned toward players who can absorb extra volume, and that has put a few under-the-radar names into focus for managers looking beyond the obvious stars. Trevor Lawrence, Dalvin Cook, Kyren Williams, Chris Olave and others are part of the broader picture, but the appeal here is really about opportunity and how injuries elsewhere can reshape a slate.
For Colts fans, the name worth noticing is Alec Pierce, who fits neatly into that kind of environment. The analysis around this weeks player pool points to favorable defensive vulnerabilities and the chance for expanded involvement, which is exactly the sort of setup that can turn a secondary option into a useful fantasy play. It is not a glamorous storyline, but in a week defined by absences and shifting target shares, Pierce has become the kind of receiver DFS players tend to circle when they are hunting for a little edge. [Read more 🡒]