The comeback portion of Philip Rivers’ playing career may be over, but an immediate NFL coaching career is suddenly a real possibility.
The 44-year-old Rivers — who returned to the league following a five-year retirement for three games as the starting quarterback for the Colts in December — is “seriously” being considered as Sean McDermott as head coach of the Bills, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
“One of the biggest stories of the year was Philip Rivers coming back to the field, unbelievable, and actually it is not done yet,” Rapoport said Sunday on “NFL Gameday Morning,” ahead of the NFC and AFC Championship Games.
“Philip Rivers interviewed in the last several days for the Buffalo Bills head coaching job, in person. That is real, this actually happened, and my understanding is this is under serious consideration.
“Sounds like in the interview process, he crushed it. And I know he has been just a high-school coach, but he’s basically been a head coach and essentially a play-caller on every team he’s been in over the last decade or so. Philip Rivers has a strong connection around the league of veteran coaches, guys like [former Colts and Panthers coach] Frank Reich would be one, guys like [49ers assistant] Gus Bradley another. He could pull an impressive staff. This is certainly one to keep an eye on.”
The Bills announced Friday they had interviewed Rivers for their head coaching vacancy.
During his retirement, Rivers served as the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.
He went 0-3 in his comeback with the Colts following an injury to former Giants QB Daniel Jones, throwing for 544 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in his first NFL games since 2020.
The Bills’ interview process will continue Sunday with a meeting with Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinsky. They previously interviewed former Giants head coach and former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, current Buffalo OC Joe Brady, former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for the position.
McDermott, the second-longest tenured coach in Bills history behind Hall of Famer Marv Levy, was fired two days after Josh Allen and the Bills were eliminated in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs by top-seeded Denver.
The Bills have recorded the second-most wins (98-50) of any NFL team in regular-season play during McDermott’s nine seasons as head coach since 2017.
Buffalo qualified for the playoffs eight times and reached the AFC Championship Game twice in that span, but they have not appeared in the Super Bowl since making four consecutive trips (all losses) under Levy from 1990-93.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
