Philip Rivers Discusses Potentially Becoming NFL HC, 'I Can Coach at This Level'

Philip Rivers may be done playing football, but he believes he could return in a different capacity someday.

The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback said Monday that he believes he has what it takes to coach in the NFL.

"I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I can coach at this level." Rivers told reporters. "I know enough about the game, about the guys from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie — all that comes with it. But again, that's not something that I'm sitting here pursuing."

Rivers initially retired after the 2020 season, but returned to football in December when the Colts were in desperate need of a quarterback to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Rivers played three games, throwing for 544 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Indianapolis went 0-3 and missed the postseason, though Rivers was still one of the success stories of the year.

After Rivers' last game, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that teams had been "doing research on Rivers as a candidate and making background calls."

"Several sources say Rivers could end up as a head coach candidate this cycle and the current belief is that Rivers gets at least one opportunity to interview, possibly more," Rapoport wrote.

Before Rivers returned to the NFL last month, he had been serving as the head coach of his son's high school, St. Michael Catholic, in Fairhope, Alabama. Rapoport noted that Rivers has led St. Michael to two state semifinals since taking over in 2021.

While his resume as a high school coach alone wouldn't warrant a job in the NFL, his experience as a player combined with his success as a coach so far could be enough for teams to take a chance on him.

During an appearance on the Up & Adams Show last week, Rivers mentioned that he likes to be able to make an impact on the game when asked about a career in broadcasting.

"I've not ruled it out," Rivers said. "But every opportunity that's been close to coming or has come up just hasn't felt right. ... The one thing I've loved since I was however old playing this game and being now as a coach is I've been able to have some impact on the score. You might be good at it, talking about it, but I have nothing to do with the outcome of this game."

The Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants are all in need of a head coach as of Monday. Perhaps Rivers will be in the mix for one of those gigs.