Philip Rivers linked with shock move to the Bills
The veteran quarterback was called out of retirement by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2025 season.
One month after making a shock return to the NFL, Philip Rivers is being linked with one of the most coveted coaching jobs in the league.
Rivers, 44, had been retired for nearly five years when he returned to play quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts for the final games of the 2025 regular season. He has insisted that he will not return to play in 2026 but has received interest about a potential coaching position.
On Friday Rivers was confirmed as a candidate for the vacant head coach role with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills recently parted ways with Sean McDermott and Rivers is being interviewed with a view to replacing him.
It would be a major step up for Rivers, whose only previous coaching experience is with St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama.
What did Philip Rivers say about coaching in the NFL?
Rivers was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the fourth overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft and he went on to lead the team to four division titles. He played every single regular season game from 2006 to 2020, the second-longest appearance streak in NFL history.
The 44-year-old chose not to pursue a career in NFL coaching after his initial retirement in 2020 but he is now interested in a switch back to the professional game. Speaking earlier this month, Rivers sounded confident about his abilities as a coach.
“I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level,” Rivers said. “I know enough about the game and about the guys, and from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie, all that comes with it.”
“But, again, that’s not something that I’m sitting here pursuing. If anything I learned the last four weeks, it’s take it one day at a time. Because there was a Sunday afternoon, I had no thought of being in Indianapolis the next day. Then, 24 hours later, I was here.”
If there was ever a time for the eight-time Pro Bowl selection, this might be it. Ten NFL teams have already parted company with their head coaches this cycle and five of those roles are still vacant. The Bills have been perennial challengers in the AFC and Rivers could be the man to help take them over the top.
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