Sources: Rivers-to-NC State deal set to be finalized after Friday board meeting

• Mark Schlabach

  Close

  

  Mark Schlabach

  ESPN Senior Writer

  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia
   and 

Nov 11, 2026, 07:59 PM ET

The NC State Board of Trustees is expected to finalize a contract on Friday that will make former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers his alma mater's new head football coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

The long-expected hiring of Rivers, who never has been a college coach but is one of the program's most revered former players, is expected to culminate after Friday's meeting, sources told ESPN.

Sources told ESPN that they haven't been told the deal is done, but they expected Friday's trustees meeting to finalize a deal.

Rivers, who played quarterback at NC State from 2000 to 2003, is in his sixth season as coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He built the program from ground up and guided the Cardinals to the state semifinals in 2024 and '25.

The 44-year-old had told NC State that he wanted to finish the current high school season, sources said. St. Michael's season ended Friday.

In the early stages of the search, Rivers emerged as the favorite to replace Dave Doeren, who was fired Oct. 24. Another former Wolfpack and NFL quarterback, Russell Wilson, was also in discussions about the position.

Rivers broke nearly every NC State and ACC record during his career, throwing for 13,484 yards with 95 touchdowns. He led the Wolfpack to four straight bowl games under coach Chuck Amato, winning three of them. Amato died last month at 80 years old.

Rivers' son, Gunner, committed to play for NC State on Feb. 23. Gunner Rivers, who is ranked 168th in the SC Next 300, threw for 10,847 yards with 119 touchdowns at St. Michael before his high school career ended due to a knee injury.

Philip Rivers played 17 seasons in the NFL, all but one with the Chargers, before retiring after the 2020 season. Last year, he came out of retirement to start three games for the Indianapolis Colts after starter Daniel Jones and backup Riley Leonard were hurt.

In January, Rivers interviewed for the Buffalo Bills' head coaching vacancy but later removed himself from the search.