Philip Rivers interviews for Bills' head coaching position

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2026-01-24

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Philip Rivers initially dismissed interest in leaping from a brief unretirement directly into NFL coaching, insisting he was headed back to St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama. Perhaps the former quarterback could be convinced otherwise.

The Buffalo Bills are interviewing Rivers on Friday for their head coaching job, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources informed of the meeting.

Rapoport added that Bills quarterback Josh Allen is sitting in on Buffalo’s interviews.

The Bills announced later Friday that they completed an interview with Rivers.

After five years out of the NFL, Rivers returned to quarterback the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 for three starts, as Indy attempted to get back into the playoff race. Following the season, Rivers said he thought he could coach at some point, but suggested that wasn’t in his plans for 2026, saying that he was returning to Alabama for his son Gunner’s senior season.

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“I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level,” Rivers said earlier this month. “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.”

The 44-year-old might not have initially considered NFL coaching following his return, but that hasn’t stopped clubs from doing research on the eight-time Pro Bowler, Rapoport reported earlier this month. With 10 openings during this hiring cycle, including five still unfilled, that interest turned into an interview in Buffalo.

Rivers is an interesting candidate, particularly to pair with the likes of Allen. The QB clearly had command of the offense of whatever team he piloted. Even jumping into the fray late in 2025, it was clear Rivers ran the show in Shane Steichen’s offense. However, running an entire organization, along with all that entails off the field, is a different beast.

The last player to make the jump from the gridiron directly to an NFL head coach job the following season was Norm Van Brocklin, per NFL Research. The Hall of Fame quarterback played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960, then became the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach in 1961.

When we filter out the numerous player-coaches from yesteryear, Van Brocklin was one of only four people in NFL history to get his first head coaching gig the year after their final playing season. The three others: Red Weaver (played for the Columbus Tigers in 1923, head coach for them in 1924), Ray Flaherty (played for the New York Giants in 1935, head coach for Boston in 1936) and Walt Kiesling (played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1938, head coach for them in 1939). Could Rivers make it five?

Even if Rivers doesn’t wind up in Buffalo this season, taking the meeting at all highlights his potential interest in making the move sooner than later. If he doesn’t land a gig this year, Rivers will undoubtedly be one to keep in mind next cycle.