NC State Interviews Russell Wilson for Coach
The school met with the former NFL quarterback as it searches for a replacement after Dave Doeren's firing.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Would you support hiring a head coach with no college coaching experience?
NC State interviewed Russell Wilson for its head football coaching job, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. The search follows Dave Doeren's firing as head coach on Oct. 24, and Philip Rivers has been viewed as the presumptive favorite for the position.
Why it matters
The interview signals the program is weighing a high-profile outside candidate rather than an internal hire after the firing. Wilson played three seasons at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin for his final season, giving him a direct link to the program.
Wilson's three seasons at NC State are the main on-field tie to the program, and Rivers' No. 17 jersey is retired in Raleigh. Neither candidate has college coaching experience, and the report does not say whether the school has interviewed other candidates.
The players
Russell Wilson
Former NFL quarterback who played three seasons at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin for his final college season.
Philip Rivers
Former NFL quarterback whose No. 17 jersey is retired in Raleigh and who now coaches high school football in Alabama.
Dave Doeren
Former NC State head football coach who was fired on Oct. 24.
The details
NC State met with Wilson on Tuesday night, Nov. 3, 2026, according to Schefter's report. Rivers, a high school football coach in Alabama with no college coaching experience, has been the presumptive favorite since Doeren's firing.
Timeline
Oct. 24: Dave Doeren fired as NC State head football coach.
Tuesday night (Nov. 3, 2026): NC State interviews Russell Wilson for the head coaching job.
Big Picture
NC State's search reflects a recent pattern of programs weighing former NFL quarterbacks for head coaching jobs despite no college coaching résumé. The interest in Wilson and Rivers, both without college coaching experience, tests whether name recognition outweighs traditional qualifications.
Wilson and Rivers are both fantasy-relevant names only if they are hired and their play style is still in question. For Raleigh fans, the outcome determines whether the program returns to a familiar name or turns to a new direction.
The takeaway
Coaching searches that pair former players with no college experience reward name recognition but leave program-building questions open. Readers tracking NC State should watch for the official hiring announcement.
Further reading
Explore more football coverage for context on college coaching searches.
Live Poll
Would you support hiring a head coach with no college coaching experience?
