New Philip Rivers Rumors Update NC State HC Search Buzz After Dave Doeren Firing

Former star quarterback Philip Rivers has "emerged as the focus" of NC State's head coaching search, according to On3.com's Chris Low, Brett McMurphy and Pete Nakos .

Low, McMurphy and Nakos noted that there isn't a timetable for Rivers' hiring as he finishes out the 2026 season as head coach of St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama.

NC State previously fired head coach Dave Doeren after dropping to 3-4 to start its 2026 campaign.

ESPN's Pete Thamel initially reported that Rivers was under consideration for the Wolfpack's vacancy on Saturday.

Prior to Rivers' impressive NFL career in which he earned eight Pro Bowl nods and made seven playoff appearances, he suited up for NC State for four seasons from 2000-03.

It's also worth noting that his son, Gunner, plays quarterback in high school and committed to the Wolfpack on Feb. 23. The 17-year-old is a 4-star prospect who's listed as the No. 12 passer in the 2027 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings .

As for the elder Rivers, he's helped lead St. Michael Catholic to a 6-3 record as head coach this season. The school previously advanced to the Class 4A semifinals in the state playoffs in each of the past two years.

While it's obviously much more challenging to coach at the college level compared to high school, Rivers' NFL experience and familiarity with NC State have reportedly made him a top choice for the school's next head coach.