Philip Rivers Considered for Bills’ Head Coach Position

Philip Rivers was initially seen as a strong candidate for the head coaching role with the Buffalo Bills. However, on January 27, the Bills appointed Joe Brady as their new head coach instead. That being said, Rivers, an experienced quarterback with 18 seasons in the NFL, did meet with the team’s management during the process.

After their discussion, Brandon Beane, the newly appointed team president, remarked to Rivers, “I’d be surprised if you weren’t on the team at the end.” This was reported recently by the Buffalo News.

Beane noted that while Rivers’ interview went well, team leaders expressed some caution about the challenges that come with such a significant commitment. Additionally, Rivers’ devotion to his family—his wife Tiffany and their ten children—posed a substantial consideration for both sides.

A few days later, Rivers contacted Beane to express his uncertainty about fully dedicating himself to the position and ultimately stepped back from the possibility.

Hiring Rivers would have added an intriguing twist to the situation. Over his career, Rivers played 16 seasons with the Chargers, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, and many see him as a potential Hall of Famer. He called it quits in 2020 after his last season with the Colts.

In a surprising return to the NFL, Rivers rejoined the Colts in December, stepping in after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury. He faced Indianapolis three times during that stint, finishing with 544 passing yards and four touchdowns.

As a high school football coach at St. Michael Catholic University in Alabama, Rivers has pivoted from his playing days, but he does lack coaching experience at the NFL level.

Other candidates for the head coach position included former Giants coach Brian Daboll, former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, and former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, among others.

Brady, who has been with Buffalo for over two seasons as the offensive coordinator and previously as quarterbacks coach, steps in to replace Sean McDermott. McDermott was let go following a loss to the Broncos in the recent playoffs, concluding his nine-season tenure with a regular-season record of 98-50, while his playoff performance stood at 8-8.