Philip Rivers to meet with 'entire NC State brass' after Russell Wilson interviewed

Philip Rivers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Philip Rivers set to meet with 'entire NC State brass' after Russell Wilson interviewed for head-coaching job

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Nov 4, 2026 4:21 PM ET

Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson once competed as NFL quarterbacks. They may now be contending for the same job.

On3's Chris Low and Pete Nakos reported Rivers is scheduled to discuss the North Carolina State Wolfpack head-coaching vacancy on Wednesday after the ACC school reportedly interviewed Wilson on Tuesday. Per Nakos, the "entire NC State brass" is set to meet with Rivers, who's preparing to coach a playoff game for St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, on Friday.

Who's more likely to land the NC State job?

No reports have revealed if NC State has a strong preference between the ex-QBs, but Rivers would be the educated guess. His ties to the program are stronger, which could attract NIL (name, image and likeness) donors.

Rivers starred for NC State from 2000-03, finishing as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (13,484) and passing touchdowns (95). Rivers joined Roman Gabriel as the second Wolfpack QB selected in the first round of the NFL Draft when the New York Giants drafted him with pick No. 4 in 2004. New York subsequently traded him to the San Diego Chargers (now based in Los Angeles) for QB Eli Manning (pick No. 1 in 2004).

Sources tell @Clowfb and me for @On3 that the entire NC State brass is meeting with Rivers today.

Rivers has a high school playoff game to coach on Friday night.

More: https://t.co/rhEv9t77do https://t.co/Tc6ifwM1fE
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) November 4, 2026

Wilson, meanwhile, played for NC State from 2007-10, finishing fourth in program history in passing yards (8,545) and second in passing TDs (76). He transferred to the Wisconsin Badgers for the 2011 season. After he won the Rose Bowl with the Big Ten school, the Seattle Seahawks took him with pick No. 75 in the 2012 draft.

Rivers had the more accomplished career at NC State, potentially giving him a point over Wilson in the minds of boosters. The possibility that it helps the school keep his son scores another.

Gunner Rivers, whom 247Sports lists as a four-star QB in the class of 2027, is already committed to NC State. He may be even more bullish on the school if it hires his father. That would let him keep playing for him after coaching him through high school.

The Wolfpack seem to be eyeing multiple options as they aim to replace recently fired HC Dave Doeren, which is wise. That said, multiple indicators suggest Philip Rivers is No. 1 on their list of head-coaching candidates.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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