Philip Rivers, NC State Reportedly Have 'Momentum' in Contract Talks to Replace Dave Doeren as HC

The potential return of Philip Rivers to NC State, this time as the head coach of the program, grows more real by the day.

According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, "The two sides are expected to have further communication in the near future and there's continued momentum at the moment toward Rivers ultimately being the hire, sources tell CBS Sports. Nothing final at this point though."

Rivers, 44, played his college ball for the Wolfpack, throwing for 13,484 yards, 95 touchdowns and 34 interceptions across four seasons. He then went on to have a highly successful NFL career that included stops with the Los Angeles Chargers (2004-19) and Indianapolis Colts (2020; 2024) and may ultimately result in a Hall of Fame induction.

Between his first and second stints with the Colts—and currently—he's served as the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, where he's led the program to the state semifinals over the past two seasons. He also interviewed with the Buffalo Bills about their previous head-coaching vacancy ahead of the 2026 campaign.

For NC State, Rivers would be a splashy, energizing hire for the program after Dave Doeren was fired on Oct. 24 following a 31-28 loss against Stanford and 3-4 start to the season. And while that move appears to be gaining steam, Rivers didn't offer much insight into the possibility over the weekend.

"N.C. State is special to me," he told Ben Thomas of AL.com on Friday night. "Coach Doeren, what he did over 14 years, all-time winningest coach, I have a ton of respect for what he did and how he went about it with the University. There is nothing there at this point. You understand the chatter that is out there. You take it one day at a time. I'm excited about this postseason with these guys. Like I said last year, you never say never, but there is nothing imminent."