Philip Rivers. Yes, that Philip Rivers. The guy with like, eight kids and a million “dadgum it” soundbites. He’s not just back in the NFL conversation, he’s apparently interviewing to be a head coach. For the Buffalo Bills, no less. I mean, did you just spit out your coffee? ‘Cause I almost did.
Wait, Philip Rivers… Coach?
Look, I’m not gonna lie. When I first saw the headline-ish blurb, I thought it was some kind of elaborate joke. Philip Rivers, Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills? The man who looks like he just rolled off a church picnic straight onto the field? The guy whose on-field persona was basically “frustrated dad trying to assemble IKEA furniture”? Yeah, that guy.
But here’s the thing. It’s apparently true. The 44-year-old (can you believe it?) former Chargers-then-Colts QB actually sat down with the Bills on Friday, January 23rd, to talk about their open head coaching gig. And honestly, it makes you pause. Like, really pause and wonder what in the world is going on up there in Orchard Park. This isn’t just a former player sniffing around a coordinator job; this is the big one. The top dog.
His “Retirement” Was Short-Lived, Apparently
And you know, this isn’t even the first time Rivers has surprised us with a comeback lately. Remember that 2025-2026 season? Yeah, the one where the Colts’ top two signal-callers-in-waiting-for-their-moment, Daniel Jones and then rookie Riley Leonard, both went down with injuries? Who did they call? Good ol’ Rivers. His old coach, Shane Steichen, who’d worked with him for like, eight years back in the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers days, gave him a ring. And Rivers, being Rivers, laced ’em up again. Played three of the last four games. I mean, the dude just loves football, obviously. Can’t stay away.
But Wait, The Bills? And McDermott?
Okay, so we all know Bills coach Sean McDermott got the axe. And, frankly, it was a messy situation. You had his wife out there breaking silence and everything. That whole thing was a drama bomb. So the Bills are looking for a new leader, a new voice, someone to take that very talented, very playoff-contending team to the promised land.
“You’ve got to wonder if this is a PR stunt, a courtesy interview, or if they’re genuinely looking for someone who thinks completely outside the box. Because Philip Rivers as an NFL head coach? That’s about as outside the box as it gets.”
And they’re talking to Philip Rivers? This is where it gets interesting. And, let’s be honest, a little bit head-scratching.
What This Actually Means
Here’s my take. This could be one of three things, and I’m leaning towards a mix of two of them.
1. A courtesy interview: The Bills brass knows Rivers, he’s a big name, he’s got a huge football IQ. Maybe they’re just seeing what he’s about, getting a fresh perspective. Not really serious, but checking the box.
2. They’re casting a really wide net: After a coach like McDermott, maybe they want someone completely different. Someone who isn’t from the traditional coaching tree. Rivers certainly fits that bill. He’s spent his entire adult life in an NFL locker room, albeit as a player. He knows the game inside and out, probably has opinions on every play call from the last two decades.
3. He’s actually a dark horse candidate: Now, this is the wildest one, and the one that actually makes me sit up and pay attention. What if the Bills aren’t looking for another X’s and O’s guru to replace McDermott? What if they’re looking for a leader of men, a guy who commands respect, who knows how to inspire, and who has an almost obsessive passion for the game? Rivers has all that in spades. And he’s already had a taste of “un-retirement” with the Colts, so the fire is clearly still burning.
I mean, if you think about it, who better to teach a young quarterback (or, you know, Josh Allen, who’s not so young but could still learn a thing or two from a guy like Rivers) than someone who played the position at an elite level for almost two decades? He knows what it’s like in the huddle, what it’s like under pressure. He’s been there, done that, and probably yelled “DAG GUMMIT” a thousand times in the process.
This is a gamble, no doubt. A huge, swing-for-the-fences kind of gamble. But if it works? Man, if it works, the Bills will look like geniuses. If it doesn’t? Well, then it’ll just be another footnote in the wild, unpredictable world of NFL coaching hires.
I’m not saying it’s a sure thing. Not by a long shot. But I’m also not saying it’s impossible. And you know what? A part of me-the part that loves a good, messy, totally unexpected story-is kinda rooting for it. Imagine the press conferences. Imagine the soundbites. It would be… something else entirely.
