New Philip Rivers rumors about North Carolina State meeting and potential coaching staff amid Russell Wilson buzz

As alumnus Russell Wilson emerges as a candidate for NC State’s head coaching job, Philip Rivers appears to have a leg up on the competition.

Pete Nakos of On3.com reported that Rivers is expected to meet with “the entire NC State leadership” on Wednesday to discuss the head coaching position.

Rivers has also reportedly “started scouting potential team members at NC State,” according to John Brice of USA Today, who added that the former NFL quarterback is the “primary target” to become the next head coach at his alma mater.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Wilson interviewed for the head coaching job at NC State after the school fired Dave Doeren on Oct. 24. The 37-year-old played at NC State from 2008-10 before transferring to Wisconsin in 2011. He played 14 seasons in the NFL before retiring last June, and he now works as an analyst for CBS Sports.

Unlike Wilson, Rivers has already gotten his feet wet in the coaching business. The 44-year-old is in his sixth season as coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., and has led the team to the state playoff semifinals in each of the last two years. He reportedly told his alma mater that he wanted to finish the current high school season. Nakos said he will coach a playoff game Friday night.

Rivers spent his entire college career at NC State from 2000 to 2003 before spending 18 seasons in the NFL. He returned from a four-year absence to play for the Indianapolis Colts in the final three games of the 2025 campaign.

NC State is 4-4 in Saturday’s ACC showdown against Duke (6-2). Hiring a new head coach would surely boost morale as the team heads toward the end of the year.