The Buffalo Bills surprised a lot of casual football fans when they brought Philip Rivers in for an interview last week in their search for a new head coach to replace Sean McDermott.
Rivers won’t be the hire, though.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that Rivers has informed the Bills that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for the gig.
Philip Rivers is out of the Bills HC sweepstakes. After interviewing with Buffalo, he’s withdrawing himself from consideration, per sources. pic.twitter.com/2RhouF270c
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 26, 2026
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The 44-year old just started three games at the end of the 2025 NFL season for the Indianapolis Colts after returning from a nearly five-year retirement.
He’s a well-respected guy around the NFL and likely will get further interviews down the road.
The timing on this just didn’t end up feeling right to Rivers.
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There’s one very logical point to be made here. Rivers is the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, and his quarterback is his son, Gunner.
Gunner is a high-quality QB recruit who has his senior season of high school coming up in the fall.
Rivers will get to coach his son’s senior year before deciding to move on.
There’s no telling what else might be in play, but for now, the Bills will have to look somewhere other than Rivers for their next leader.
