The Buffalo Bills are turning heads with their latest move in the head coaching search - they're set to interview Philip Rivers on Friday, according to league sources. Yes, that Philip Rivers.
At 44, Rivers is fresh off a surprising return to the NFL this season, stepping in for the Indianapolis Colts after Daniel Jones went down. It wasn’t a storybook comeback - he went 0-3 in his three starts - but the veteran QB still showed flashes, completing 63% of his passes for 544 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad for someone who had been out of the league and coaching high school ball.
That’s right - Rivers has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School since 2021, where he’s quietly built a strong program, going 43-15 over the past few seasons.
But this interview with the Bills? This is a whole different level.
It’s his first official head coaching interview in this year’s NFL cycle, and if he lands the job, he’d be the first full-time NFL head coach without prior college or pro coaching experience since 1961. The Colts did bring in Jeff Saturday under similar circumstances on an interim basis back in 2022, but this would be a permanent hire - a bold move in a league that doesn’t often stray from the coaching pipeline.
Rivers' playing résumé speaks for itself. Drafted fourth overall by the Giants in 2004 before being swapped for Eli Manning in a blockbuster draft-day trade, Rivers went on to become the face of the Chargers franchise.
An eight-time Pro Bowler, he racked up nearly 64,000 passing yards over an 18-year career. He led the NFL in passing yards in 2008 and took home Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2013.
He was known for his fiery competitiveness, football IQ, and that unmistakable sidearm release - not to mention his ability to command a huddle and rally a locker room.
The Bills are casting a wide net in their coaching search after parting ways with Sean McDermott last week. Rivers joins a candidate pool that includes Mike McDaniel, Joe Brady, and Brian Daboll - all respected offensive minds with varying degrees of NFL coaching experience. Rivers would be the wildcard in that group, but his leadership pedigree and deep understanding of the game can’t be discounted.
It’s a fascinating development in Buffalo - a franchise looking to reset and retool around a talented roster. Whether Rivers is the answer remains to be seen, but the fact that he’s in the conversation says a lot about how the league is evolving - and how much belief there still is in his football mind.