Philip Rivers’ returning to North Carolina State could be at hand.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reports the two sides are continuing their dialogue and there is momentum towards the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback becoming his alma mater’s head coach. But Zenitz cautions that nothing has been finalized as of yet.
The Wolfpack fired Dave Doeren last week after a 3-4 start to his 14th season.
Rivers, 44, made a brief return to football in 2025, coming out of retirement to appear in three games for the Indianapolis Colts after having hung up his cleats following the 2020 season. Prior to his initial retirement, Rivers appeared in 244 games across 17 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and Colts.
Since retiring, Rivers has coached football at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, AL where his son, Gunner Rivers, is starting quarterback. The younger Rivers is an NC State commit.
Despite having only coached at the high school level, Rivers interviewed for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching vacancy last offseason. The team ultimately promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady into the role.
A native of Decatur, AL, Rivers spent four years with the Wolfpack before being taken with the fourth overall selection of the 2004 NFL Draft. In 49 games, Rivers threw for 13,484 yards on 1,087-for-1,710 passing with 95 touchdowns to 35 interceptions. The team went 34-17, including 3-1 in bowls, with Rivers as starter. He finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting in 2003.