Longtime NFL QB and former NC State QB Philip Rivers named the Wolfpack's new head coach
Former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers has been named the new head football coach at NC State, replacing the fired Dave Doeren. Rivers, who currently coaches at a high school in Alabama, will take over the program at the end of the 2026 season.
Why it matters
The hiring of a high-profile former player with no collegiate coaching experience represents a significant and risky strategic shift for the NC State football program.
Philip Rivers is now officially NC State's new head football coach.
The school announced Friday that it had hired the former Wolfpack QB to take over at the end of the season. NC State fired Dave Doeren after a 3-4 start to the 2026 season that included a disastrous loss to Vanderbilt.
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