JANUARY 25: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link) Rivers’ interview went well. He adds a head coaching hire – unorthodox as it would be – is under “serious consideration” by the Bills at this time. Buffalo’s decision on this front will be among the league’s top storylines over the coming days.
JANUARY 23: The list of Bills targets for their head coaching vacancy continues to grow. One of the more interesting names on the market will now receive a look. 
Philip Rivers is set to interview with Buffalo today, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The eight-time Pro Bowler briefly resumed his playing career down the stretch, making three starts for the Colts after Daniel Jones was lost to an Achilles tear. Rivers later confirmed he would not play again.
[RELATED: Bills To Interview Mike McDaniel For HC Job]
The door is open to a coaching career, however. Prior to the 2026 head coaching hiring cycle beginning, Rivers was named as a wild-card candidate to watch. As of earlier this month, he had yet to receive an interest from around the NFL. With the Bills in the midst of their search, though, at least one interview will now take place.
Before he un-retired, Rivers had been coaching his eldest son’s high school team. The 44-year-old has stated a desire to return to that role for 2026 in the absence of an NFL opportunity. Rivers’ football acumen and leadership were sources of praise throughout his decorated career, making him a logical candidate for a coaching role of some kind.
On the other hand, Rivers has never worked as a head coach, coordinator or position coach at the pro or college levels. That lack of experience would make a jump directly to the HC ranks in the NFL a risky one to say the least. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if a mutual interest exists between the parties once this in-person interview concludes.
Sean McDermott was fired following Buffalo’s latest postseason loss. Owner Terry Pegula‘s actions and remarks since then have made it clear general manager Brandon Beane won out in a power struggle of sorts with respect to disagreements over roster construction; Beane was promoted to president of football operations earlier this week. Quarterback Josh Allen will be present for Buffalo’s upcoming interviews, and he is in position to have a “significant say” in the team’s eventual hire. It will be interesting to see how Allen feels about the possibility of Rivers (who played 17 full NFL seasons, including 16 with the Chargers) stepping into a head coaching role immediately after hanging up his cleats.
Here is an updated look at where things stand for the Bills:
- Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator (Colts): Interviewed 1/22
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/21
- Brian Daboll, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed 1/22; prefers Buffalo gig
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Rumored candidate
- Anthony Lynn, run-game coordinator (Commanders): To interview 1/24
- Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): To interview 1/23
- Philip Rivers, former NFL quarterback: To interview 1/23
- Grant Udinski, offensive coordinator (Jaguars): To interview 1/25
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To interview 1/24
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Rumored candidate
Didn’t the Colts already try the straight to HC approach with Jeff Saturday?
He’s 43-15 as a HC… of a HS team. What could possibly go wrong
What serious OC or DC is gonna want to go to Buffalo and work under a guy who’s never coached in the NFL at any level?
The Bills aren’t hiring him for head coach. They’re checking are killing time waiting for one of these coordinators from the final four teams to emerge. They are DEFINITELY hiring one of the remaining 8 coordinators.
How is this any different than Jeff Saturday becoming an intern HC?
How is it different? Rivers and Saturday are different people.
Why don’t you say that about other things? They already tried a coach with experience. Why would another coach with experience be any different? Kind of a bizarre take.
The media ate up Irsay and Saturday for the remaining balance of that season. Now, the media is lovey dovey w/ Rivers doing it? AP had college experience and NFL experience in coaching and lasted 1 full year.
Lamar clearly wasn’t himself, or what we expect to see, from week 1. His body has taken hard punishment over his career; same for Josh. Josh was limping all game against Jax. I wouldn’t be surprised if both QB’s really start to slow down in 2 years time. Running is half of their games.
Ownership seems like it’s on a path to being a train wreck.
You forget that before Josh Allen came along the Bills were already a train wreck and one of the premier Dumpster Fires
Forgetting that Buffalo made the playoffs in 2017? Or that the Bills knocked the Jets out of contention in 2015/Week 17 when the Jets were win-and-in?
Yeah I know eh? Didn’t the Bills win the Super Bowl those years?
Play in the Super Bowl those years?
Not serious contenders whatsoever. Knocking out the Jests from the playoffs does not make you any better.
NFL head coach should not be the first coaching position someone has above the high school level. Even coordinator shouldn’t be. This shouldn’t even be enough of a consideration to give him an interview.
Well, Deion was complaining years ago that he should be a college or NFL head coach without putting in his time, learning the craft as an assistant. Then Jackson State granted him his wish, probably because of his name, and then he parlayed that into his HC gig at Colorado. Look at how well that’s turned out. Silly me. I was clearly wrong about someone needing to put in time developing as a coach. I’m sure that Phillip Rivers would have the same unbridled success going from high school coach to NFL HC.
Sanders was a longtime NFL player who coached at the high school level before getting a head coach job at the college level in a lesser conference. That’s very, very different than going straight from high school to the NFL.
Pretty sure Deion made a school and coached against other schools before going to Jackson. That gave him experience.
I think everyone should kick back a notch and just relax. It’s just an interview. Not like he’s been offered the job. Does he even want the job? I know he’s got a bunch of kids so does he uproot everything and move to Buffalo for a job which could be a short lived one? Maybe they offer him a consultant position or something to start out. I mean they have the right order. POFO then he hires the coach. It’s still better than the Falcons fiasco. I wouldn’t think being a HS coach would be a good resume’ starter for NFL Head Coach. But there are some really crazy hires going on in the NFL right now.
@get probably just bs. They just sent a email. Philip could possibly stay as a HS coach. It’s really not about money, but I can see him doing it to be a mentor for younger kid’s
Please let this happen.
As much as I and tons of others would love for this to be a success, I’d really rather Rivers work his way through coaching to learn the particulars of the NFL coach experience, rather than go straight to the top. It’s just about having the knowledge, it’s about knowing how to use it.
And the expectations are set (despite Terry’s comments)
Its nuts. Winning playoff games isn’t enough – so hire the unproven wildcard?
Or consider him at least. Don’t see how it works out.
Oh dear Lord.
….Fire McDermott for just being a “good coach” but interview guys like Rivers and McDaniel and expect a SB.
This isn’t going to go well.
So when you look at only the negatives it is impossible to see beyond that
Pump the brakes and ask why this isn’t a bad idea?
First you are getting direct feedback from a proven high performing QB we a non biased analysis of what systems worked or were effective vs those which caused issues
Remember Josh Allen is sitting in these interviews or is part of them in some capacity
We are pivoting from a defensive control freak and shifting mindset towards the offensive side of the ball
Second although this is technically a Head Coaching interview it doubles as a potential Offensive Coordinator warm up as well
Let’s remember we still have one of if not the top QBs ( which is why McDermott had such a great coaching record
Let’s see if Josh continues to win without McDermott while McDermott may struggle without Allen
Name a head coach that doesn’t struggle without a franchise QB.
Its also not about “focusing on the negative” its about being a realist.
Being objective – you think an unproven is gonna meet expectations a good coach like McDermott didn’t?
Thats just hope:
I’m saying that I don’t necessarily believe this is about hiring him for the head coach vs more of intel gathering process
@sports is life You’re exactly right. This is a quid pro quo. Rivers gets the experience of an NFL coach’s interview, and the Bills get his opinion on what he would do with the offense.
@Bills1 – Joe Gibbs with Washington and 3 Super Bowls. Maybe Tomlin in Pittsburgh with Trubisky, Rudolph and Pickett going to the playoffs?
Parcells took 2 average QB’s to SB titles. Sean McVay also took 2 different QB’s to the big dance; 1-1 record w/ plenty of division titles and playoff wins. Reid should have won a SB against NE in Jacksonville, but McNabb puked out his guts on the field during the 2 minute drive. After TO came back from a broken leg or ankle in weeks time to play.
Yes 40 yrs ago Parcels did, that was a completely different era.
Reid & McVay took 2 different QB’s over the past 20 years (Eagles loss to NE was in 2005). Mike Holmgren took 2 teams to the SB. Late 90’s for GB and w/ Seattle a few years later. Like with the Ravens; the HC’s couldn’t get in their prime MVP QB’s to the big game. Both franchises need a new message.
Reid – Maholmes and McNabb.
Mcvey – Stafford and Goff
All franchise QBs.
The posters original point was Sean is garbage and will struggle without Allen, but you need a franchise QB, all coaches do. Naming Parcells or Gibbs isn’t strong supporting evidence as football is a different game now. The other guy had Tomlin – fine ONE outlier example doesn’t prove the opposite and in fact I think everyone here even agrees that you need a franchise QB, but we argue just because…
And the second point – even if you believe firing Sean is worth it, interviewing Rivers as a replacement is a joke. The expectations are SB, so turning to Rivers is just dumb. Even interviewing him makes you look silly given where your franchise is.
Oh yeah, pick his brain for intel? What exactly are they learning? Are they asking for Marty’s number?
But oh yeah, “typical Bills fan!” Cause I have an opinion.
But you are right about not improving the roster, but that guy got promoted. He is now the one interviewing Rivers.
So yeah, if Mcdermott goes somewhere without a franchise QB its quite likely he struggles, but because a new Bills coach has Allen doesn’t mean its a good hire either.
Im not sure why this is controversial.
Never once did I say Josh wasn’t a franchise QB. But I disagree w/ you have to have a franchise QB to win. Nix, Darnold, Rodgers (1st ballot HoFer) but has been ordinary for the past few years, Trevor had a great season last year; the other 5years… Herbert is 0-3 in playoffs. Young and Love round out, so far, non-franchise QB’s that all made the playoffs.
@Bills – i do agree with what you said. What you threw out there just looked like a good trivia question!
Brian Billick – Trent Dilfer
Good take, but Simms was better than average.
Are we satisfied with playoffs or did we just fire a coach for that?
Apparently, your owner isn’t satisfied w/ just a short playoff run, again.
So arty – you do understand why the world interviewing a guy like Rivers is strange.
Simple; no NCAA or pro experience at any coaching level. AP had 9 years of being a pro player, captain, SB Champ, and NCAA+ coaching experience. Heck AP called x2SB winning HC Tom Coughlin non-stop for his opinion. Why didn’t LV hold onto him?
Right.
But the point isn’t necessarily about Sean Arty – its about his replacement.
I don’t support firing Sean, but I don’t think its unreasonable either.
I do think its unreasonable to blame him entirely (Pegula) and show interest in an unproven.
There is no right answer but both Balt & Buffalo didn’t win w/ HoF QB’s in their 20’s. It was time for a change. Again, the Buf’s GM should have been fired; not promoted. But he won the power struggle.
Oy vey, sounds like a typical buffalo fan, just expecting the sky to fall. Losing McDermott isn’t the end of the world, the bills will be just fine. It’s a time to be excited as a fan, they’re going to try something different… it didn’t work before. McDermott teams were good, not great. Let’s be psyched about seeing what someone else can do.
I agree. Jon Fox was dumped by Elway after the Broncos lost the SB. Gary Kubiak took over and won the next season. On the flip side, the TB Lightning held onto their HC after years of frustration before hoisting up the Stanely Cup.
The Bills biggest problem is roster management. They have a QB and RB; what about the other 51 players? Of course, the GM gets promoted!
Kubiak had coaching experience.
Im not sure you get the point…
Sometimes change is needed. As I said, I believe the entire roster is weak. The GM should have been fired as well rather than being promoted. Every writer says to the effect ‘Josh put on the superman cape…’. You can’t rely on 2 players of a 53 man roster to carry a team season after season. Jakobi Meyers cost the Jags a 4th and 6th and instantly became one of Trevor’s favorite targets. Buffalo did nothing to improve their roster.
Jack – the point isn’t necessarily about someone else, its about an unknown with no experience.
Im not sure you understand the reason for frustration and are reducing it to just Sean.
I hear ya, I just think it’s important to not make any judgments or assumptions based on who they have announced they’re interviewing. The fact that they haven’t hired anyone yet should tell you that they are almost certainly going for one of the coordinators still active. Kubiak or Webb are my bets. They are interviewing the guys that are available to us at the moment, staying active, but also none of them have been rumored to be close to getting it.
I would love to see Rivers prove the haters wrong…again.
They didn’t win a game with him qbing this year…who did he prove wrong!? “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! HELLO, YOU DON’T PLAY TO JUST PLAY IT”-Herm Edwards.
I’m surprised you expected Rivers to put up 50 points against the 49ers and use his telekinesis powers to mess up Jason myers game winning field goal
They’re labeling every interview “head coach,” but I feel like they may be interested in Rivers as a prospective QB or assistant offensive coach
I’m intrigued as a Bills fan, am hoping they’re getting his thoughts on working under Daboll as a QB coach or even the OC but even that’s a stretch.
Lmao
Rivers needs more training. Who will he hire as OC and DC? They’d have to be good, and I’m not sure the top coordinators would want to work for a rookie head coach who has not put the time in.
If Rivers has a viable OC and DC lined up, his case would be much more persuasive.
Why does he need more training?? He was an NFL quarterback for 17 seasons. You think he doesn’t know how to call a play? He doesn’t know the everyday routine that coaches have?
Kellen Moore is considered a top tier offensive coordinator and he wasn’t even 10% the quarterback that Rivers was.
Have you ever run an organisation with more than thirty people? If you had, you’d understand. An NFL team includes about 200 people who answer to the head coach indirectly, with about fifteen or twenty direct reports.
To go from a high school team to an NFL team is a huge jump. And that’s outside of the offensive and defensive schemes. Rivers would be in over his head, like taking someone used to flying Cessnas and putting him at the controls of an airliner. Yes, Rivers is used to flying but not as the captain of a 747.
Which is why, if you bring in Rivers at HC, you also bring in a guy like Frank Reich or Anthony Lynn to work under him.
Im not weighing in on if Rivers is a good choice, or not. Simply stating he’d almost certainly need an experienced former Head Coach to serve as his lieutenant.
Snoop Dogg has more coaching experience than Rivers so give him a call.
If the hire isn’t Gruden or Belichek, it’s a failure. Daboll would be fun, though.
Gruden, who’s got a legal matter against the league ongoing?
Belichick, a loser and a cheater?
The amount of starf#&king around the NFL is incredulous.
Gruden was getting blackballed and exiled by the league though I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger Goodell calls a hit on him like a mafia movie
I’m looking forward to the update where the Bills announce they’re considering Ritchie Incognito as a HC candidate 🙂
The NFL is getting as dumb as the NBA in how it handles coaches.
A case can be made from moving on from McDermott.
To move on to the likes of Daboll or Rivers is so beyond bonkers there might not be a word for it.
I take it back.
Philip Rivers would be a great hire for the Bills.
He can teach Josh Allen how to have a great career without winning or even playing in a Super Bowl (although Allen has been doing fine on his own with this, maybe Rivers can help him take never getting to the next level to the next level).
Keep the seat warm for Tomlin? That is the only positive thing I have.
He’d make for an interesting QB coach to pair with Allen if nothing else
There some people in this world that are natural leaders of men and Phillip Rivers is that.
For those saying that he has no coaching experience he did play 17 seasons in the NFL at QB. Quarterback is essentially a head coach on the field. That’s more experience than Joe Brady has.
Rivers has seen it all at quarterback and would automatically have Josh Allen’s attention. He could even suit up as a player/ coach in an emergency situation.
can’t wait for the 2026 draft .. wonder which pick the owner and GM blame on the next coach .. rivers seems like he’d make a great scapegoat
This takes knee jerk reaction to a whole new level. Look at McDermott’s win loss record as the bills HC and honestly tell me you’re confident Philip rivers can provide you with success like that. If we were talking about OC or, even better, QB coach now that would make sense. The Bills fire McDermott and my Bengals keep their entire coaching staff. Fml
Buffalo could’ve considered John Brodie, except the 49ers legend and NBC game analyst has passed away at age 90.
Unless this team gives Allen players will a new HC make a difference?
Haven’t they seen enough of the same result from depending on him to do everything?
If josh gets hurt can rivers step into qb role while still being hc ?
Would rather they hire one of their own former QB’s to be HC but if Allen breaks a leg in AFC Championship game next year before Bills advance to Super Bowl, Rivers could unretire again. LOL
Buffalo fleece the taxpayers for a new stadium so why field the winning team for a while?
This would be stupid beyond belief.
The Bills are NOT hiring Rivers. They’re checking in on everyone they can at the moment, but the fact that no one has been hired and none of these guys are rumored to be anywhere close to getting it almost certainly means the Bills and Beane are holding out for one of the coordinators on the final 4 teams. I’m fine with that, that’s how they got McDermott… he was a hot coordinator back then.