The chatter around Raleigh is getting louder: Philip Rivers might just be the man to revive NC State football. The former NFL gunslinger, who turned 44 last December, has been floated as a serious contender for the Wolfpack's vacant head coaching position, and the idea is picking up steam among fans and analysts alike.
Rivers, who briefly came out of retirement in 2025 to play for the Indianapolis Colts, showed he still had plenty of arm strength before stepping away again to focus on coaching. He even interviewed for the Buffalo Bills' head coaching job earlier this year. Now, with NC State parting ways with Dave Doeren after a disappointing 3-4 start to the 2026 season, Rivers' name has surfaced as a potential savior in his alma mater's eyes.
On Thursday morning, college football analyst Danny Kanell made a passionate case for why the Wolfpack should pounce on Rivers. "I know Philip Rivers hasn't coached in college," Kanell said. "But I think he makes a ton of sense for NC State. He has built up a winning program in high school. He would wake up potential donors. It insures you keep his son there and could build on for multiple years. The dude is a winner." Kanell added that Rivers' presence would bring "a ton of eyeballs" to the ACC program, something that matters in today's TV-driven landscape.
Former NC State quarterback Mike Glennon echoed that sentiment, painting Rivers as a near-mythical figure in Wolfpack lore. "I didn't grow up an NC State fan, but when I got to campus, I quickly learned there's a Mount Rushmore of NC State, and it'd probably be Jim Valvano and a few others. Definitely on there, is Philip Rivers, and he may be number one," Glennon said on Sirius XM. "Like the people around Raleigh and NC State, he is on a pedestal that I don't even know if Jimmy V is on. That they love this guy, and to raise money, I don't think there is another person in the country right now that could raise money for NC State fans like what Philip Rivers would do."
Rivers' connection to the program runs deep. From 2000 to 2003, he lit up the ACC with 13,484 passing yards and 95 touchdowns, numbers that still resonate with Wolfpack faithful. While he's never coached at the collegiate level, he's been at the helm of St. Michael Catholic High School's football team since 2021, building a winning culture there.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Rivers' son, Gunner, is already committed to NC State for the 2027 season. A father-son reunion in Raleigh could be a powerful recruiting tool and a emotional storyline that energizes the fanbase.
The early betting odds and fan polls already have Rivers as a favorite, and the momentum seems real. Whether the administration will pull the trigger remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: if Rivers gets the call, the Wolfpack faithful will be buzzing like never before.
