NC State is turning to the most recognizable name in its football history to lead the program forward.
The school is expected to hire Philip Rivers as its next head coach, according to On3, making the Wolfpack the first team to fill a coaching vacancy after firing Dave Doeren last month. Rivers has been coaching high school football since 2021, though he did briefly return to the NFL last year.
The move comes with plenty of intrigue because Rivers has no college coaching experience at all. Even so, NC State is betting on a figure who remains one of the biggest stars the program has ever produced, and one whose records still stand 23 years after his college career ended.
Rivers spent four seasons at NC State from 2000 through 2003 before going No. 4 overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. During that run, he piled up a long list of school marks that have yet to be broken, cementing his place in Wolfpack lore.
His path back to Raleigh has been unusual. After retiring in 2020, Rivers coached his son’s high school team in Alabama. He then came out of retirement to play for the Indianapolis Colts last season and also interviewed for the Buffalo Bills head coaching job in the offseason.
There is also a family connection already in place. Gunner Rivers, Philip’s oldest son, is committed to play at NC State beginning next season after spending four seasons playing for his father at St. Michael Catholic.
On the field, Rivers’ NC State résumé is as strong as they come. He was a four-year starter, appearing in 11 games as a freshman and 49 games overall. He led the ACC in passing attempts three times, passing yards twice, completion percentage twice and passing touchdowns once.
His numbers still sit at the top of the school record book. Rivers remains NC State’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing attempts, completions and yards per game. During his time under center, the Wolfpack won 34 games and reached its best season in 2002, when it went 11-3.
Rivers is also one of only two NC State quarterbacks ever to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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NC State Is Taking A Huge Gamble On A Program Legend
NC State is leaning into nostalgia and risk at the same time, with Philip Rivers reportedly finalizing a deal to become the programs next head coach. The former Wolfpack quarterback and current high school coach would step into his first college coaching job after Dave Doeren was fired following the 2023 season, giving the school a headline move that ties its present to one of its most recognizable alumni.
Rivers arrival would also bring another layer of intrigue because his son, Gunner Rivers, is expected to join the Wolfpack as well. For NC State, the appeal is obvious: a program legend with deep ties to Raleigh, a built-in recruiting storyline and a fresh start after a coaching change. The question now is how that leap from high school sidelines to the college game will play out once the deal is complete. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Buzz Gives NC State Fans Hope And Plenty To Debate
The idea of Philip Rivers returning to Raleigh has given NC State fans something to talk about beyond the frustration of a difficult 2026 season. A former Wolfpack quarterback who went on to a long NFL career, Rivers has stayed close to football through high school coaching and even brief recent NFL comebacks, which only adds to the intrigue around a possible homecoming.
There is also a family angle that makes the speculation feel even more layered, with his son Gunner set to arrive at NC State as a freshman in 2027. For a fan base looking for a spark, the buzz around Rivers brings both hope and a fresh round of debate about what such a move would mean for the program's direction and identity. [Read more 🡒]
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No. 25 NC States first real measuring stick of the season came with a clear warning sign, and it was bigger than one hot hand or one off night. In a 93-78 loss to No. 14 Kentucky at the Ally Tipoff, Khamil Pierre carried the Wolfpack with 34 points, but the rest of the offense never found enough support to keep pace with a game that quickly tilted the wrong way.
The Wolfpack were especially shaky from deep, going just 3 of 11 from three-point range and failing to hit a long ball in the second half. Kentucky had its own star turn from Aja Sivka, who scored 32, but the broader issue for NC State was how little margin it had once the game sped up and the perimeter shots stopped falling. [Read more 🡒]