NC State Hires Philip Rivers as Head Coach: Can the NFL Legend Turn the Wolfpack Around?

NC State has hired legendary quarterback Philip Rivers as its next head football coach, making one of the boldest moves of the 2026 college football coaching carousel! PFN's Max Chadwick breaks down the Wolfpack's surprising decision to bring Rivers back to his alma mater following the dismissal of longtime head coach Dave Doeren. Now, NC State is taking a massive gamble on Rivers, the school's all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Although Rivers has never coached at the college or NFL level, he compiled a 44-16 record as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama. Adding to the excitement, Rivers' son, Gunnar Rivers, is a highly regarded quarterback recruit committed to NC State. Is Rivers the right coach to take the Wolfpack to the next level? Can his playing experience and connection to the program overcome his lack of college coaching experience? Chadwick examines the risks, potential rewards, and long-term implications of NC State's blockbuster coaching hire. Use PFN's FREE CFB Playoff Predictor → Hit subscribe → MORE FREE PFN TOOLS CFB Impact Rankings → NFL Mock Draft Simulator → NFL Playoff Predictor → #PhilipRivers #NCState #CollegeFootball #CoachingCarousel #BillBelichick #PFN