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NC State Hires Philip Rivers as New Football Coach

Updated 4:52 AM ET · 1:54 PM ETConfirmedShare via:          

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In Short: Former quarterback Philip Rivers will take over as head coach of NC State's football program.

NC State HIRES PHILIP RIVERS as next head coach - HERE'S WHY IT WILL WORK!. Aaron Torres

Former NC State quarterback Philip Rivers has been hired as the new head coach of the Wolfpack's football program, according to multiple reports.

Rivers, who played for NC State from 2000 to 2003, will replace Dave Doeren, who was fired after a 3-4 start to the season.

Rivers told NC State officials he wants to finish his current season as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High in Fairhope, Ala., where his son, Gunner, is a quarterback and a four-star commit to the Wolfpack’s 2027 recruiting class.

Rivers is NC State’s career leader in completions (1,087), passing yards (13,484), and touchdown passes (95), starting 49 games for the Wolfpack from 2000-03.

Rivers expressed respect for Doeren, saying, “Ton of respect and appreciation for coach Doeren and all he did for the University.”

Rivers will be tasked with getting the Wolfpack to the next level as an ACC contender.

While Rivers has coached high school football, this is a significant step up in terms of level of competition.

Rivers told Ben Thomas of AL.com that NC State is special to him, but there is nothing imminent about a potential return to the school.

Rivers' son, Gunner, has thrown for 10,847 yards with 119 touchdowns in his high school career.

Rivers is far enough along in negotiations that he has begun reaching out to potential members of a new football staff.

Doeren was the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the FBS, taking over the Wolfpack in 2013 and becoming the school’s winningest coach, posting a 95-70 record.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• Rivers would take over for Dave Doeren, who was fired following a Week 8 loss to Stanford that brought his career record in Raleigh to 98-73, and he will be tasked with getting the Wolfpack to the next level as an ACC contender.
• “Ton of respect and appreciation for coach Doeren and all he did for the University,” Rivers wrote.
• NC State legend Philip Rivers is in “serious discussions” about returning to coach his alma mater, ESPN reported on Saturday.
• Rivers is NC State’s career leader in completions (1,087), passing yards (13,484) and touchdown passes (95), starting 49 games for the Wolfpack from 2000-03.
• North Carolina State is searching for a new college football head coach after firing Dave Doeren last week, and Wolfpack legend Philip Rivers has emerged as a leading candidate.
• Per the report, Rivers told NC State officials he wants to finish his current season as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High in Fairhope, Ala., where his son, Gunner, is a quarterback and a four-star commit to the Wolfpack’s 2027 recruiting class.
• North Carolina State is working to finalize a deal to hire former quarterback Philip Rivers as the school’s next football coach, multiple outlets reported Sunday.

What's still developing

• Rather than take a swing on a rising star coordinator or try to bring in an established head coach, NC State is opting to go a third route with a Wolfpack legend to try and get more investment into the program.
• Rivers was a four-year starter at NC State from 2000 to 2003, completing 63.6% of his passes for 13,484 yards, 95 touchdowns and 34 interceptions in his time playing for the late Chuck Amato.
• Time will tell, but there will be no shortage of eyeballs on what Rivers does in Raleigh, more than 20 years after he starred for them.
• While Rivers is a bit of a mystery in terms of scheme, he'll have a familiar face joining him in Raleigh.
• What Rivers lacks in experience, NC State hopes he can make up for with enthusiasm and by getting the Wolfpack's top boosters to open their wallets a bit more to build a roster that can compete in the ACC.
• NC State is looking back to look ahead, identifying program legend Philip Rivers as its top candidate to be the school's next football coach, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
• ESPN, The Athletic reporting that Philip Rivers is a serious candidate to replace Dave Doeren as NC State’s next football coach NC State’s football team celebrated a fresh start Saturday with a 31-10 victory over California in the first game since Dave Doeren was dismissed as head coach.
• Meanwhile, momentum continued to build toward a potentially historic homecoming for former Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers.
• Earlier this year, Rivers interviewed for the Buffalo Bills head coaching job.
• NC State is working to finalize a deal to hire Wolfpack legend and former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers, sources tell On3’s Chris Low and Pete Nakos and The Wolfpacker’s Noah Fleischman.
• Everything Boo Corrigan Said Ahead of NC State’s 2026-27 Athletic Year One of the biggest concerns surrounding the possibility of Philip Rivers becoming NC State’s next head football coach is that he’s never coached college football.
• On3's Chris Low, Pete Nakos, and Noah Fleischman reported on Sunday morning that the former NFL and Wolfpack star quarterback "is working to finalize a deal" to become his alma mater's next head coach.

Sources

• CBS Sportslink
• Country1037Fmlink
• Espnlink
• Fox Newslink
• Front Office Sportslink
• Kmjnowlink
• Ncfootballnewslink
• Newsweeklink
• On3link
• Packinsiderlink
• Rubbingtherocklink
• Saturdayblitzlink
• Srnnewslink
• Thescore1260link
• WRALlink
• Warpbeatlink
• Aaron Torres — video link
• Pack Power | NC State Wolfpack on 247Sports — video link
• WRAL — video link
• Pro Football Network — video link
• Locked On Wolfpack — video link