Philip Rivers in Serious Talks to Become NC State's Head Coach

NC State's coaching search may be heading home. A week after the Wolfpack fired Dave Doeren, the most decorated quarterback in program history is in serious talks to replace him.

Philip Rivers has engaged in serious discussions about returning to coach his alma mater, ESPN's Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach reported Saturday, though sources told ESPN a deal isn't yet close. Rivers has not met with NC State officials in person, but there has been outreach about putting together a front office should he take the job. The 44-year-old has also told the school he wants to finish the current season at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Ala., where he is the head coach.

Thamel was the first to put Rivers' name in the search on Oct. 24, the day the job opened, reporting that he was expected to be in the mix along with the usual crop of coaches and coordinators. On Friday, On3 reported that Rivers had emerged as the focus of the search, with no timetable for a decision.

Rivers isn't calling it done

In public, Rivers has kept the door open without walking through it. After St. Michael lost its regular-season finale 53-32 to Foley on Friday night, he told AL.com, "There's nothing there at this point." He has also said, "You never say never, but there's nothing imminent."

NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan has said the school will run a national search, so nothing is official. Rivers has never coached in college. He interviewed for the Buffalo Bills' head coaching job in January before removing himself from consideration.

Why it fits

Few people carry more weight in Raleigh. Rivers started at quarterback for the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2003, made an NCAA-record 51 straight starts and broke nearly every school and ACC passing record on his way to 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns. He led NC State to four straight bowl games under Chuck Amato, winning three, and the school retired his No. 17.

He went fourth overall in the 2004 NFL draft and played 17 seasons, all but one with the Chargers, earning eight Pro Bowl nods before retiring after the 2020 season. Last year, he came out of retirement to start three games for the Indianapolis Colts after injuries to Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard.

There is a family tie, too. His son, Gunner Rivers, is a four-star quarterback in the 2027 class who committed to NC State on Feb. 23. A knee injury has ended Gunner's high school season.

Rivers is in his sixth season at St. Michael, where he is 50-20 and has taken the Cardinals to the state semifinals in each of the past two years. They open the playoffs at home against Glenwood next week, and he wants to see that run through.

Where NC State stands

The job opened the day after a 31-28 loss at Stanford dropped the Wolfpack to 3-4 and 1-3 in the ACC. Doeren left as the winningest coach in school history after 14 seasons, but he never reached the ACC Championship Game.

Hiring Rivers would be one of the boldest swings of the coaching cycle: a first-time college coach, sold on name, local credibility and a quarterback's mind. It would also put a father and son together in Raleigh.

The last word

For now, NC State's top target is coaching a high school playoff run in Alabama. If the Wolfpack want Rivers, they will likely have to wait until St. Michael's season is over, and he has made clear he isn't in a rush.

Sources: ESPN, On3, AL.com, Gulf Coast Media, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report, Pack Insider and Pro Football Talk. More college football coverage on Undrafted.

Photo: Micah Green/Gulf Coast Media.