Philip Rivers has reportedly begun the process of building a coaching staff for North Carolina State University, signaling his strong candidacy for the head coaching position. This development comes as the university continues its search following the firing of Dave Doeren.
USA Today reported Wednesday that Rivers, a former NC State quarterback, has been reaching out to potential staff members. This move aligns with reports from On3 last week, which indicated Rivers had become the focus of the Wolfpack's coaching search.
Rivers himself had previously downplayed speculation about the job, stating in November, "Never say never, but nothing imminent." He acknowledged NC State's special significance to him but added, "There's nothing there at this point. You understand the chatter is out there. Got to take it one day at a time is all I know."
The connection to NC State is further strengthened by the commitment of Rivers' son, Gunner, a four-star quarterback prospect, to the university.
However, the search landscape recently became more complex with the emergence of another former NC State quarterback, Russell Wilson. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Wilson interviewed with NC State officials. Wilson played three seasons with the Wolfpack before transferring to Wisconsin for his senior year.
Despite the addition of Wilson to the candidate pool, On3 reported that Rivers remains the front-runner. According to the outlet, Rivers was scheduled to meet with Wolfpack officials on Wednesday and a deal is "expected to come together soon."