- - Philip Rivers expected to be a head-coaching candidate, could interview with teams after dramatic NFL return

Chris Cwik January 4, 2026 at 7:58 AM

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers' dramatic return to the NFL might not be temporary after all. While the 44-year-old is retiring from the game as a player ... again ... he could remain in the league as a head coach.

Following Rivers' dramatic return to the NFL, the veteran has reportedly received head-coaching interest around the league, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. NFL teams have reportedly done research into Rivers and started making calls about him as a coach, per Rapoport. It's reached a point where Rivers could get at least one interview from an NFL team this offseason.

Entering Week 18, only two teams — the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans — have openings at head coach. That figure is expected to grow following Sunday's games. Some coaches could be dismissed before the day is done, while other will be let go Monday.

Rivers' resume as a player is pretty impressive. During his first stint in the NFL, Rivers passed for 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns. Those figures rank eighth and sixth, respectively, in NFL history.

After five years off, enough time to make Rivers a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he shockingly returned to the NFL after Colts quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending injury.

Considering the circumstances, Rivers played surprisingly well down the stretch, completing 63 percent of his passes, with four touchdowns against three interceptions in three games. With the Colts eliminated from postseason contention, Rivers was benched in favor of rookie Riley Leonard in Week 18.

Following that announcement, Rivers made it clear his playing days are over. He implied that he would go back to coaching high school football in Alabama. Shortly after his first retirement from the NFL, Rivers began coaching high school football.

But with Rivers returning to the NFL, there's some thought maybe he would consider remaining in the league as a head coach, per Rapoport. That's been a barrier in the past, as teams reportedly considered Rivers last offseason, but were told he wasn't willing to consider making the jump to college or the pros.

When Rivers announced his return to the NFL after five years away, he instantly became one of the biggest stories of the 2025 NFL season. If that short stint as the Colts' quarterback leads to a head coaching position next year, it would be a fitting way from Rivers' improbable comeback to continue.

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Source: “AOL Sports”