Philip Rivers could make an unprecedented jump from Alabama high school football to the ACC, leaving behind a successful six-year run at St. Michael Catholic for a potential return to NC State.
Philip Rivers could make an unprecedented jump from Alabama high school football to the ACC, leaving behind a successful six-year run at St. Michael Catholic for a potential return to NC State.
Philip Rivers has spent the past six seasons building a high school football program in Alabama. Now, the former NFL quarterback could be making one of the most unusual coaching jumps in college football.
Rivers is working to finalize a deal to become the next head football coach at NC State, his alma mater, according to reports from On3. The 44-year-old would be leaving St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, where he helped transform a young program into a state championship contender.
BREAKING: NC State is working to finalize a deal to make Philip Rivers its next head coach, @Clowfb, @PeteNakos and @fleischman_noah report🐺
Rivers has begun reaching out to potential front office and coaching staff candidates.https://t.co/waGSCEsJls https://t.co/dQj7OR0sg0 pic.twitter.com/OjzGUkkhvS
— On3 (@On3) November 8, 2026
The potential move comes after Rivers completed his sixth season at St. Michael. The Cardinals lost 42-35 to Glenwood in the opening round of the Alabama Double-A playoffs Friday, finishing the season 6-5.
If the deal becomes official, Rivers would go directly from coaching high school football to leading an ACC program, despite never having held a college or professional coaching position.
That’s a significant leap, even for someone with Rivers’ football résumé.
Philip Rivers Turned St. Michael Into A Contender
When Rivers took over at St. Michael ahead of the 2021 season, the program was still establishing itself. Six years later, he leaves with a 48-21 coaching record and a program that reached the state semifinals in consecutive seasons.
The Cardinals went 12-2 in 2024 and 13-1 in 2025, establishing themselves among Alabama’s top programs. Rivers’ teams went 25-3 across those two seasons, with their only losses coming against eventual two-time state champion Jackson.
This season presented a different challenge. St. Michael opened 0-3 while navigating the absence of Rivers’ son, Gunner, who suffered a knee injury in the season opener. The Cardinals eventually won six consecutive games before dropping their final two contests.
The season ended Friday night, but Rivers’ impact on the program was evident.
According to AL.com, Rivers once described his dream after playing professional football as following in the footsteps of his father, Steve, by becoming a high school head coach.
He accomplished that goal and now appears ready for another challenge.
NC State Would Be Betting On More Than His NFL Résumé
Rivers is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NC State history.
He started 51 consecutive games for the Wolfpack from 2000-03, throwing for 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns. His passing-yardage total remains an ACC record, and the school retired his No. 17 jersey.
He went on to play 18 seasons in the NFL, throwing for 63,984 yards and 425 touchdowns while earning eight Pro Bowl selections.
But playing quarterback at an elite level and coaching an entire college football program are two different responsibilities.
Rivers has never coached at the college or professional level. He would be responsible for assembling a staff, managing a college roster, navigating the transfer portal and overseeing the recruiting and name, image and likeness landscape.
There is also a major difference between developing high school players and competing for talent against the nation’s top college programs.
Still, Rivers brings a combination of football knowledge, name recognition and a connection to NC State that few candidates could match.
He also has a family connection to the program. His oldest son, Gunner, is committed to play quarterback for the Wolfpack. The younger Rivers is expected to join the program in 2027.
A Rare Jump From High School To Major College Football
If finalized, Rivers’ hiring would be an unusual move in the modern college football landscape.
According to On3, he would become the first high school coach hired directly to lead NC State since John Van Liew took over the program in 1930.
Rivers would not be arriving without football experience. He has spent decades studying the game as an NFL quarterback, and his six seasons at St. Michael provided an opportunity to develop as a head coach.
But the ACC is an entirely different challenge.
NC State is looking for a coach who can elevate the program after firing Dave Doeren, who finished his tenure as the winningest coach in school history with 98 victories.
Rivers would inherit a program with expectations, a passionate fan base and a roster that needs to compete in an increasingly demanding college football environment.
The Wolfpack are betting that their former quarterback can translate his football intelligence and leadership into success on the sideline.
Rivers has already proven he can build something at the high school level. The question now is whether he can take the next step and do it in the ACC.