NC State’s coaching search has already taken a wild turn, and now the school is reportedly tied to one of its biggest legends.
On Saturday, ESPN college football reporters Mark Schlabach and Pete Thamel reported that eight-time Pro Bowl former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers “has engaged in serious discussions about returning to coach his alma mater,” though a hire is still far from done after Dave Doeren was fired on Oct. 24.
Rivers, who started at quarterback for NC State from 2000-03, has spent the last five seasons coaching at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He also briefly came out of NFL retirement last December to start three games for the Indianapolis Colts.
Asked about the speculation after a loss on Friday, Rivers told Al.com, “I mean, shoot, NC State's special to me,” while also saying, “There's nothing there at this point.
“I guess it's like I told you last year,” Rivers continued. “You never say never.”
And that’s where the fun starts. A Philip Rivers hire would be the kind of move that instantly changes the conversation around NC State football.
For one, it would put the Wolfpack in the spotlight in a way the program hasn’t enjoyed in a long time. Rivers is the biggest quarterback in school history, and even if he’s stepping into a steep learning curve as a first-time college head coach, the name alone would pull eyes toward Raleigh. That kind of attention could also help energize a fan base that has had little reason to buy in under Doeren, giving Rivers a chance to build a competitive roster in Year 1.
There’s also the possibility that Rivers could help assemble a staff with familiar faces. The former quarterback has several ex-NC State teammates with coaching or front-office backgrounds, which could make the early staffing process easier.
Dantonio Burnette, who played with Rivers from 2000-02, is already at NC State as an assistant athletics director leading the football program’s strength and conditioning department. Rod Johnson, who led the team in interceptions in 2002, is now director of player engagement/alumni relations at Oklahoma State.
Other names could fit, too. Jerricho Cotchery, Rivers’ former teammate and a two-time ACC receiving yards leader in 2002 and 2003, is in his second season with the North Greenville Trail Blazers as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.
Clayton White, who was a linebacker and senior when Rivers was a freshman, is South Carolina’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, another former NC State linebacker, was recently promoted to Sam Houston State co-interim head coach after Phil Longo’s firing earlier this week.
The idea of Rivers at NC State also opens the door to a rivalry storyline that would be hard to ignore. A coaching matchup with Bill Belichick would bring new life to North Carolina-NC State and give Rivers a shot at payback.
The two crossed paths nine times, including playoffs, when Rivers quarterbacked the Los Angeles Chargers and Belichick coached the New England Patriots. Belichick’s teams won eight of those meetings, with Rivers’ lone victory coming in 2008 after Tom Brady’s season-ending ACL tear.
Then there’s the entertainment factor. Rivers was one of the most memorable interview subjects in football during his NFL years, and college football would give him a steady stream of postgame moments. Whether it was his style, his emotion or just the way he carried himself, he always made for good television and better quotes.
Finally, there’s the family angle, and it’s a big one. Rivers’ eldest son, Gunner, is already committed to NC State in the 2027 recruiting cycle. Schlabach and Thamel reported that Gunner finished his high school career with 10,847 passing yards and 119 touchdowns after a knee injury ended his senior season.
With Rivers already being discussed for the job, the path from high school coach to college coach suddenly feels a lot shorter. And if another school gets in first, there’s at least the possibility that Gunner could follow.
Gunner is one of nine siblings, including two brothers. One of them, Peter, was born in 2011 and was described by Philip as “a little slot receiver,” according to the Indianapolis Star.
And if Rivers ended up sticking around long enough, there’s even more family intrigue ahead. Philip could someday coach Andrew, who turned 3 on Friday, Oct. 30, along with his nephew, the child of eldest daughter Halle, who was born in late 2024.
The next chapter of NC State football could be shaped by a Rivers hire.
In Other News...
Belichick Brings Another Off-Field Distraction To North Carolina
Bill Belichicks arrival in Chapel Hill has already brought plenty of attention, and now theres another layer to the off-field conversation around North Carolina. According to sources close to Jordon Hudson, the two reportedly ended their relationship late last year, even though they have remained close friends and continued their business partnerships.
The pair has still been seen together publicly this year, which has only kept the spotlight on a relationship that drew notice in the first place because of their age difference. For the Tar Heels, it is another reminder that Belichicks presence is going to come with plenty of scrutiny beyond the football field. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Still Has One Big Roster Concern Before No. 1 Miami
North Carolinas Friday night availability report brought a little clarity ahead of its matchup with No. 1 Miami, and a little more uncertainty too. Five Tar Heels are still ruled out, while four others are listed as questionable, leaving the staff to sort through a roster picture that is still very much in flux as kickoff approaches.
There was one bit of good news for the Tar Heels, with defensive lineman Zavion Griffin-Haynes now considered available. Miami will also be short-handed, with six players out for the game, but the biggest update for UNC may still be coming later, when the final availability report is released two hours before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Went Toe To Toe With No. 1 Miami Until One Brutal Mistake
North Carolina went into Week 9 and gave No. 1 Miami everything it could handle, trading punches after the Hurricanes struck first and answering with a string of touchdown drives led by Billy Edwards Jr. The Tar Heels also got the kind of defensive stops that kept the game within reach, and for a while it looked like they had the top-ranked team on the ropes despite the noise around a few controversial penalties.
UNC even briefly grabbed the lead in the fourth quarter, turning a tense showdown into a real upset threat. Then came the play that changed everything: Edwards Jr. put the ball on the ground late, Miami recovered, and a night that had been full of belief and resistance suddenly tilted back toward the favorite. [Read more 🡒]