NC State’s decision to hand the program to Philip Rivers has already set off a wide range of reactions, and the early takes are coming from some of the biggest names around the sport.
On The Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Ian Rapoport said the move might actually fit Rivers better than people expect, even if it comes with plenty of unknowns. Rapoport said he had wondered whether coaching in the NFL would have been a more natural first step for Rivers because of his long playing career at that level. He also said he wouldn’t be shocked if Rivers eventually surfaced as an NFL head coach.
“It’s funny you say that. I’ve kind of wondered if it would be not easier, because the NFL is as high as it gets, but I wondered if the acclimation process would be a little less for him if he became an NFL coach.
“He interviewed last year for the Bills. I thought that might happen.
“This opportunity, though, hopefully he has a really good GM to get him through this.
“He’s got a really good quarterback prospect, who I know they’ve been recruiting, and they like, who is also his son.
“The opportunity to possibly coach his son is unbelievable. So, I think it makes sense to do this for a while.
“At the end of four years, if he ends up in the NFL as a head coach, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”
McAfee zeroed in on Rivers’ presence and the way he carries himself. For him, the appeal is simple: Rivers has the kind of personality that can win over a locker room fast.
“Yeah. I think everyone respects his leadership.
Everyone appreciates how he goes about his business. And his resume is legit.
“So, when you talk about a guy that can come in and win people over quickly with authenticity, it’s Phil Rivers, and I can’t wait for these young bucks to hear him chirp them without swearing.
“Because he’s going to be a chirper, and he doesn’t swear. I don’t know if this age can fully understand that.”
Nick Saban’s reaction carried a different kind of weight. The former Alabama coach said Rivers should be able to handle the football side of the job, but he drew a sharp line between knowing the game and running a college program.
“First of all, I think Philip Rivers, probably from a technical standpoint, from a football standpoint, being an NFL quarterback for so many years, being a smart guy…he probably will be able to coach the players, and that part of it.
“But being a college coach to me is all about being a program builder.
“Recruiting is a really big thing. Developing relationships with people, having the kind of staff that can develop those kind of relationships and develop the leadership for these guys…a little different in terms of how you’ve got to motivate college players versus being an NFL player.
“He was in high school. Probably a lot of similarities with that.
“But I think the program part, whether it’s academics, whether it’s the discipline in the program, how you’re going to practice and be most efficient, how you spend the time, which is a limited amount of time in college because of academics…all those types of things to me are going to be the key in terms of how you evaluate the players you have on the team, how you evaluate players you want to pay, how you evaluate the guys you want to recruit.
“All these things take an expertise that maybe isn’t something he’s experienced, that he’s probably capable of.
“If he can set up the right protocol for those things, I think he has a great chance to be successful.”
Saban’s point lands right at the center of the hire: Rivers’ football brain isn’t really the question. The bigger test is whether he can build the structure around himself to handle everything that comes with a major college job.
Jim Rome, meanwhile, didn’t exactly pretend to be sold. He said he’s skeptical, and he made clear he doesn’t think this kind of move usually works. But he also said NC State had to do something bold if it was moving on from Dave Doeren, and Rivers qualifies as bold.
“Bottom line is this. I am skeptical.
It doesn’t work. It never works.
It hasn’t worked. And you know what…it may never work.
“BUT…if there is one guy who might be able to make it work…it’s Philip.
“Either way, I’m here for it, and I don’t blame them for shooting their shot.
“NC State has got to do something. They have to do something to shake it up.
“I’m here for it.
“If you’re going to run a guy like Dave Doeren, who was a really good coach for a long time there, then you better do something pretty dramatic, and this, of all the dramatic things, this is pretty dramatic.
“Shoot…let’s see what happens. Am I right…daggumit? Shoot your shot, gunslinger!”
In Other News...
Philip Rivers NC State Salary Says Plenty About The Programs Next Era
NC States next era comes with a price tag that says as much about the programs ambitions as its budget realities. Philip Rivers is in on a five-year contract reportedly worth $18.25 million, and the deal starts with a 2027 salary of $3.25 million, a figure that would sit near the bottom of the ACC when stacked against other reported head-coaching pay for the 2026 season.
The financial picture is shaped by more than just the new contract, though. Dave Doerens buyout remains part of the conversation, and Rivers arrives with only high school coaching experience on his rsum, which makes the transition all the more notable for a program trying to reset without losing sight of the costs that come with change. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Let Bowl Hopes Slip Away In Brutal Syracuse Collapse
NC State had the game in hand late in the third quarter, only to watch it unravel in painful fashion against Syracuse. The Wolfpack built a 15-point lead and seemed poised to put themselves in solid position for bowl eligibility, but the finish turned into a nightmare as the offense stalled and the momentum flipped in a hurry.
CJ Baileys late turnovers opened the door for Syracuse, and linebacker Chris DAppolonia made the play that slammed it shut with the game-sealing interception. The loss left NC State at 4-6 with two games left, turning what looked like a manageable path to a bowl into a must-scramble finish. [Read more 🡒]
NC State's Unbeaten Start Is Putting New Pressure On Its Young Core
NC State kept its unbeaten start rolling with an 81-62 win over Troy at the Lenovo Center, and the early-season results are starting to say something about this group beyond just the record. Paul McNeil Jr. led the way with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Ven-Allen Lubin added a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards as the Wolfpack leaned on a balanced effort to stay perfect at 4-0.
The more encouraging sign may have been how cleanly NC State played on both ends. Troy was held to 34.5% shooting, and the Wolfpack turned it over only seven times, a season low, which is the kind of detail that can matter as the schedule stiffens and the pressure on a young core begins to build. [Read more 🡒]