Former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching vacancy on Friday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rivers, 44, spent 17 seasons as an NFL quarterback with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts from 2004 to 2020. Five years after retiring, Rivers returned late this season to start three games for the Colts following Daniel Jones’ season-ending injury.
While Rivers has no NFL or collegiate coaching experience, he is the current head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.
The Bills shocked the football world Monday when they fired head coach Sean McDermott after nine years on the job.
McDermott led the Bills to the playoffs eight times in his nine seasons and won five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020 to 2024. His 98 regular-season wins are the second-most in team history behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Marv Levy.
For all of his success, McDermott was never able to get the Bills over the hump despite the presence of superstar quarterback and 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen.
Buffalo never made a Super Bowl under McDermott, losing twice in the AFC Championship Game. Last weekend, the Bills fell 33-30 to the Denver Broncos in overtime in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Earlier this month, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that teams were “doing research” on Rivers as a head coaching candidate, and the expectation was that he would get “at least one opportunity to interview, possibly more.”
Rapoport followed up Friday with a post on X, noting that the Bills’ interest in Rivers is “pretty real.”
Over his 18 seasons as an NFL quarterback, Rivers went 134-109 as a starter during the regular season. He also completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 63,984 yards, 425 touchdowns and 212 interceptions.
Rivers ranks sixth in NFL history in passing touchdowns, eighth in passing yardage and ninth in completions.
In three starts in place of the injured Jones this season, Rivers went 0-3, but he performed admirably, completing 63.0 percent of his passing attempts for 544 yards, four touchdowns and three picks.
Thus far, the Bills have interviewed their own offensive coordinator in Joe Brady, former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for their head coaching vacancy.
Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Bills will also interview former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on Friday, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Washington Commanders running backs coach Anthony Lynn on Saturday, and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski on Sunday.