Philip Rivers Accepts NC State Head Coaching Job, Pending Approval

It’s official: Philip Rivers is returning to his alma mater, NC State, this time as the next Wolfpack head coach.

On3 has announced that Rivers has accepted the NC State head coaching position after reports broke several days ago that he was set to take the gig. A school announcement is expected on Friday after approval from the NC State board of Trustees.

Rivers will replace Dave Doeren, who was fired on October 24th during his 14th season with the team. Doeren finished his career in Raleigh with a 98-74 record.

In a Deion Sanders-esque move, we’ll see Philip Rivers coach his son, Gunner Rivers, who is committed to play there next season. Although there’s a chance that CJ Bailey returns for his senior season, allowing Gunner to sit behind him before taking over the starting role in 2028.

Rivers played QB at NC State from 2000 through 2003 before the Giants selected him in the 1st round of the 2004 NFL Draft and immediately traded him to the Chargers. He remained in San Diego/Los Angeles until his departure to Indianapolis, where he played in 2020 before temporarily retiring. Rivers eventually returned to the NFL in 2025 for a three-game stint.

Before accepting this position, Rivers had been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic since 2021, his lone football coaching experience. Now, he’ll return to Raleigh after 23 years and look for its first ACC championship win since 1979, under head coach Bo Rein.

A North Carolina reunion for Philip Rivers as he coaches his own son, a foundational piece of this team moving forward.