NC State hiring Philip Rivers would be unconventional, but he might still be the right fit

Longtime NFL QB and NC State legend could energize Wolfpack fans and donors and provide an injection of NIL funding Former NC State standout quarterback Philip Rivers has risen to the top of the Wolfpack's coaching search, according to industry sources, following Saturday's firing of veteran Dave Doeren in his 14th season at the program. Rivers, whose four-star quarterback son Gunner is committed to the Wolfpack for 2027, has coached St. Michael Catholic High (Fairhope, Alabama) since the 2021 season, which included his brief NFL return to the Indianapolis Colts for a cup of tea near the end of the 2025 campaign. Rivers sat down this week with NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah to discuss what he's learned on the sideline, oddly enough, shortly before news of NC State's coaching vacancy and his reported connection to it.

"It's blocking and tackling and catching and not turning the ball over at every level," Rivers said. "I know there are degrees to it, and I miss some of that high-level ball, but at the end of the day you watch on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays and it's who blocks and tackles the best and who protected the football. That's usually who wins." It would take a substantial leap of faith from NC State's power brass and top-end boosters to believe Rivers, someone