NC State legend Philip Rivers addressed mounting speculation about him becoming the Wolfpack's next head coach on Friday, acknowledging the rumors but stopping short of confirming any imminent deal.
Following his St. Michael (Ala.) High School team's regular-season finale, Rivers told AL.com that "nothing is imminent" regarding a potential agreement with his alma mater. "NC State is special to me. 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," Rivers said. "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 told you last year, you never say never, but there's nothing imminent."
Rivers is in his sixth season coaching St. Michael, where his son Gunner Rivers, a four-star quarterback prospect in the 2027 class (ranked No. 4 at his position and No. 43 overall by 247Sports), is the starter. Gunner reaffirmed his commitment to NC State on Friday, adding fuel to the speculation. Rivers emphasized his focus on finishing the high school season, noting his team's 55-20 overall record under his leadership and back-to-back state semifinal appearances.
Reports from CBS Sports and 247Sports indicate Rivers is the favorite among NC State boosters and that the university is "closing in on an agreement" to hire him. Rivers played for the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2003, setting school records with 13,484 career passing yards and 95 touchdowns. The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft played 18 seasons in the league before transitioning to coaching. He previously interviewed for the Buffalo Bills head coaching vacancy in 2024.
