Philip Rivers, 8-time Pro Bowl QB, reportedly in serious talks about coaching alma mater NC State

Last year, Philip Rivers shockingly came out of retirement and started three games for a quarterback-needy Indianapolis Colts team after close to five seasons without a snap in the NFL. This year, Rivers may return to the collegiate ranks — not to play, of course, but to coach his alma mater.

Rivers reportedly is in serious talks about coaching NC State, which moved on from longtime program frontman Dave Doeren last week.

The eight-time Pro Bowl QB has emerged as the focus of the Wolfpack's search for Doeren's long-term replacement, according to On3 . ESPN reported Saturday that, although Rivers hasn't met with NC State officials in person, there's been outreach about front-office construction, in case he agrees to take the job.

That said, the 44-year-old Rivers reportedly informed NC State that he wants to finish out the high school season in Alabama, where he's the head coach of Fairhope's St. Michael Catholic High School. And, per ESPN, a deal with the Wolfpack isn't close yet.

On Friday, following St. Michael's 53-32 loss to Foley High School, Rivers was asked about his name being linked to the NC State vacancy.

"I mean, shoot, NC State's special to me," Rivers said, via AL.com's Ben Thomas . "And you know, Coach Doeren, shoot, what he did over 14 years, and all-time winningest coach, [there's] a ton of respect and appreciation, you know, for how he went about it with the university. There's nothing there at this point. "Like I told you earlier in the week, you understand the chatter is out there. Gotta take it one day at a time, you know, is all I know. I'm excited [for] this postseason with these guys here, and I guess it's like I told you last year, you never say never, but there's nothing imminent."

"I mean, shoot, NC State's special to me," Rivers said, via AL.com's Ben Thomas . "And you know, Coach Doeren, shoot, what he did over 14 years, and all-time winningest coach, [there's] a ton of respect and appreciation, you know, for how he went about it with the university. There's nothing there at this point.

"Like I told you earlier in the week, you understand the chatter is out there. Gotta take it one day at a time, you know, is all I know. I'm excited [for] this postseason with these guys here, and I guess it's like I told you last year, you never say never, but there's nothing imminent."

While Rivers went 0-3 quarterbacking the Colts last season, his comeback was inspiring. He kept Indianapolis in games against three of the league's best: a 14-win Seattle Seahawks squad that went on to win the Super Bowl, a 12-win San Francisco 49ers group and a 13-win Jacksonville Jaguars team.

Rivers was piloting the offense as a literal grandfather . At the time he took over, he was older than 13 coaches leading NFL teams.

He was briefly in the running to join them last winter. In January, Rivers interviewed for the Buffalo Bills' job. Eventually, though, he removed himself from the search, per ESPN .

When asked Friday if his most recent stint in the NFL reignited his competitive fire for the next level, Rivers said he thinks it did, but when it comes to NC State, "that makes things a little bit different," he said, via Thomas .

Rivers authored an illustrious career at NC State, and one of his 10 children — Gunner Rivers, the 12th-highest rated QB in the 2027 class, according to the Rivals industry ranking — is currently committed to play there after graduating from St. Michael.

Before starring for the Chargers and Colts, Rivers thrived in Raleigh. He suited up for the Wolfpack from 2000-03 while establishing himself as a top-five pick. The 2002 Rivers-led NC State team won 11 games. In 2003, he threw for 4,491 yards and 34 touchdowns, completing 72% of his passes along the way.

At the moment, he's dialed in on helping St. Michael win a title. In his sixth season at the helm, Rivers has guided the Cardinals to the state playoff semifinals the last two years.