{
  "id": 18004184,
  "title": "Philip Rivers Emerges as Frontrunner for NC State Head Coaching Job",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/philip-rivers-emerges-as-frontrunner-for-nc-state-head-coaching-job",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-03T18:49:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/philip-rivers-emerges-as-frontrunner-for-nc-state-head-coaching-job-12657939"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Oct. 24, NC State dismissed head coach Dave Doeren following a 31-28 loss to Stanford, leaving them with a 3-4 record. Doeren spent 14 seasons as head coach, the longest tenure in NC State history. Interim coach Todd Goebbel, who previously coached running backs, triumphed in his first game, a 31-10 victory over Cal, but is unlikely to return for the next season. The frontrunner to replace Doeren appears to be Philip Rivers, the renowned former NFL quarterback presently coaching high school football in Alabama. Although sources suggest Rivers is a strong candidate, he has emphasized that there is no immediate decision and he intends to concentrate on his high school team's postseason. According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, discussions between Rivers and NC State are anticipated to resume soon, indicating ongoing interest in him as the coach. Rivers, an eight-time Pro Bowl athlete, enjoyed an illustrious 18-year NFL career, primarily with the Chargers and Colts. He spent his college years at NC State, where he set program records for passing yards and touchdowns, and had his No. 17 jersey retired during his senior year. Despite never coaching college football before, Rivers has led St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama to the state semifinals in each of the past two seasons. His son, Gunner, a quarterback, has committed to NC State for the 2027 season. While hiring Rivers could boost fan enthusiasm and recruit top talent, the transition from high school to the ACC presents a significant challenge. Other potential candidates for the job include Billy Napier from James Madison, Charles Huff from Memphis, Jason Eck from New Mexico, and Blake Baker, the defensive coordinator at LSU. NC State currently stands at 4-4, with a 2-3 record in the ACC. The remaining games for the Wolfpack include home matches against Duke and Syracuse on November 7 and 14, a road game against Florida State on November 21, and a road game against North Carolina on November 28.",
  "summary": "Philip Rivers has emerged as the frontrunner for the NC State job, with further discussions expected in the coming days.",
  "key_points": [
    "NC State fires Dave Doeren after 3-4 record.",
    "Philip Rivers, former NFL QB, frontrunner for job.",
    "Rivers coached NC State to 2 state semifinals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}