Russell Wilson has interviewed for the North Carolina State football head coaching job, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The former Seattle Seahawks quarterback is one of the most recognizable names tied to the opening, and his connection to the school runs deep. Wilson spent three seasons as NC State’s quarterback from 2008-10 before transferring to Wisconsin for his final college season in 2011.
NC State’s search has also included another familiar face. ESPN reported Saturday that Philip Rivers, the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback and NC State alum, has “engaged in serious discussions” about coaching his alma mater.
The Wolfpack moved on from Dave Doeren on Oct. 24 after a 3-4 start. Doeren had been in his 14th season leading the program.
Wilson, 37, stepped away from the NFL in June after a 14-year career that packed in plenty of big moments. This fall, he’s on CBS Sports as an analyst for “The NFL Today” pregame show.
His playing résumé is the kind that still jumps off the page. In Seattle from 2012-21, Wilson became known for his deep-ball touch and his ability to escape trouble, leading the Seahawks to two Super Bowl appearances and their first title. He also set franchise records, finished in the top four in AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year voting three times and won the NFL’s 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Wilson’s career took a sharp turn after Seattle traded him to Denver in March 2022 in a blockbuster move. The Seahawks collected draft capital from the deal and used it to help build the team that won the 2025 Super Bowl, while Wilson’s path went in the opposite direction.
After leaving Seattle, he went 17-27 as a starter across three teams in four seasons. He was 11-19 with Denver in 2022-23, 6-5 with Pittsburgh in 2024 and 0-3 with the New York Giants in 2025 before first-round pick Jaxson Dart took over.
For his career, Wilson threw for 46,966 yards, 353 touchdowns and 114 interceptions. He also rushed for 5,568 yards and 31 scores, making him the only player in NFL history to top both 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.
In Other News...
Kevin Durants Thunder History Sparked Another Viral Fan Debate
A harmless-looking social media exchange was enough to drag Kevin Durants Thunder history back into the spotlight this week. A user named Drew joked that another account defending Durant had to be his new burner, and the line caught fire fast, feeding into the long-running fascination around Durants online presence and the old Oklahoma City debates that still follow him.
The account at the center of it all quickly pushed back, insisting there was no Durant connection and treating the sudden attention with a sense of humor. Even so, the episode showed how easily anything tied to Durant can reopen familiar arguments for Thunder fans, especially when it comes to his criticism of the franchises front office and the lingering curiosity around his social media past. [Read more 🡒]
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Turning OKCs Injury Stretch Into Something Bigger
The Thunder have managed to open the season 6-2 even while key players have been sidelined, and that kind of early stability usually says as much about a teams depth as its star power. In this stretch, though, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the one carrying the offensive load, raising his scoring level in a way that has helped Oklahoma City keep winning through the injuries.
Gilgeous-Alexanders recent scoring burst has pushed him into a conversation with the leagues most productive scorers, including Luka Doncic, who currently leads the NBA in that category. If this pace holds, it could put Gilgeous-Alexander in the mix for the scoring title himself, which would add another layer to a Thunder start that has already been more impressive than it had any right to be. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Need Kenrich Williams More Than Anyone Expected
The Thunders depth has been tested in a way few teams can fully prepare for, with Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren all sidelined by lengthy injuries. In the middle of that stretch, Kenrich Williams has become a far more important piece than Oklahoma City likely expected, giving the rotation a steadier edge with his physical defense and enough offense to help keep the group afloat.
Oklahoma City has already worked the margins of the roster through trades, balancing salary concerns with draft capital as it tries to stay flexible. A wing addition still feels like the sort of move that could make sense, but the Thunder may also decide the current collection of pieces is enough to get through the season if Williams keeps holding up his end of the load. [Read more 🡒]