Philip Rivers did not expect his late-season return to the NFL to open any new doors. But after three games back under center, it may have done just that.
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Rivers' brief stint as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts has put him on the radar for a possible next chapter. A report last week indicated that some teams have begun doing background research on Rivers as a potential head coaching candidate.
To this point, Rivers' coaching experience has been limited to the high school level, where he has coached his son's team. He has previously said that returning to that role was the plan once his unexpected return to the field came to an end.
Speaking Monday from the Colts' locker room, Rivers said he is aware of the chatter and is not dismissing it outright, even if nothing concrete has materialized.
"It's nothing that I would shut down before it even became a possibility," Rivers said, via Pro Football Talk. "But there's nothing of substance there right now."
Rivers said the past month has changed his perspective in some ways.
"If anything, this month has taught me that you stay open," he said. "You see where things go from there."
While he is not actively pursuing an NFL coaching job, Rivers did not shy away from expressing confidence in his ability to handle the role if the opportunity were to arise.
"I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level," Rivers said. "I know enough about the game and about players, from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie, all of that. But again, it's not something I'm sitting here chasing."
There are currently six head coaching vacancies around the league, and teams are still finalizing their candidate lists. Whether Rivers' name becomes more than just exploratory remains to be seen.
Granted, the former quarterback is back in a familiar spot. But after an unexpected return reminded teams Rivers is still very much connected to the game, it may not be the last time his name comes up this offseason.
