Former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers is nearing a deal to become the next head football coach at his alma mater, North Carolina State University, according to a report from the New York Post. The move would mark Rivers’ first college coaching position after spending recent years leading a high school program in Alabama.
Rivers, a 2003 NC State graduate and one of the program’s most decorated players, would replace Dave Doeren, who was fired earlier this season following a disappointing 3-4 start. The Wolfpack have struggled to regain momentum after Doeren’s 14-year tenure came to an abrupt end.
From High School to the ACC
If finalized, the hire would represent a major leap for Rivers, who currently serves as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. His team finished 6-4 this season and was eliminated from the state playoffs last week. The last time a college program hired a high school coach directly was in 1981, when Notre Dame brought in Gerry Faust.
Rivers would also become just the fourth former NC State player to lead the program, joining a small group that includes Chuck Amato, who coached the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2006.
A Wolfpack Legend Returns
Rivers’ college career at NC State remains the stuff of legend. He led the NCAA in passer rating in 2003, earned Athlete of the Year honors in 2004, and had his No. 17 jersey retired by the school. His success continued in the NFL, where he was an eight-time Pro Bowler, the 2013 Comeback Player of the Year, and the league’s passing yards leader in 2010.
After retiring from the NFL, Rivers briefly returned to the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 in a player-coach role, throwing for 544 yards and four touchdowns in a limited stint. Now, he appears poised to take on his biggest coaching challenge yet—revitalizing a struggling NC State program.
Speculation is also swirling that Rivers may bring in former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long as part of his staff, signaling a potential offensive overhaul for the Wolfpack.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/11/08/report-philip-rivers-set-to-join-alma-mater-nc-state-as-head-coach/