NC State confirms hiring of former NFL QB Philip Rivers as head coach

Recent reports revealed that former North Carolina State quarterback and ageless NFL wonder Philip Rivers would soon be introduced as the program's next head coach. 

On Friday, NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan made it official when he announced that Rivers signed a five-year agreement. Rivers will be formally introduced as the next NC State head coach on Monday via a private, invitation-only event that will air live on the ACC Network and stream via the GoPack.com and ACC Network Extra services. 

NC State loved Philip Rivers' "exceptional leadership ability, his character, the way he connects with people and his vision for this program"

"Philip Rivers is one of one and the right person to lead NC State Football into its next era," Corrigan said for the statement. "His accomplishments as a player at the collegiate and professional levels speak for themselves. But throughout this search process, what stood out to me most was his exceptional leadership ability, his character, the way he connects with people and his vision for this program. He is someone who is deeply respected and beloved by Wolfpack Nation, and I couldn't be more proud that he will be the one leading our football program."

Rivers first became well known among national football fans while playing at NC State from 2000 to 2003. He then produced what many assume will be a Hall of Fame career when he played for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers from 2004 through the 2019 season. 

Rivers spent the 2020 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts, and he then served as a high school head coach until he shockingly ended his retirement to play for the quarterback-desperate Colts last December. 

In early January, Rivers insisted he was now done playing for good. He later interviewed with the Buffalo Bills regarding their head-coaching vacancy but eventually took himself out of the running for that gig. 

Philip Rivers "humbled and honored" to take over at NC State

"I am humbled and honored to be the next head football coach at NC State University," Rivers added for the release. "In many ways, I feel like I'm coming home. This is where it all began for me as an 18-year-old kid from Alabama, and now to return to this great place as head coach is beyond words. I gave it everything I had here as a player for 51 games, and I will give it everything I have as the coach. There's no denying that this is going to take hard work, but we're not scared of hard. I look forward to getting after it every single day with an unbelievable coaching staff and a group of players who are dedicated to relentlessly pursuing victory."

According to Mark Schlabach and Pete Thamel of ESPN, Rivers told NC State he first wanted to finish the high school season, which ended Friday. Rivers replaces longtime coach Dave Doeren, who was fired Oct. 24.