Philip Rivers, who came out of retirement last month in an effort to help the Indianapolis Colts push for the playoffs, is now considering another dramatic career turn, a move into NFL head coaching.

Rivers, who originally retired after the 2020 season following a one-year stint with the Colts, rejoined Indianapolis in December after Daniel Jones tore his right Achilles. The 44-year-old started three games down the stretch, but the Colts went 0-3 and were eliminated from postseason contention. Just weeks after stepping away from the field again, Rivers interviewed Friday for the Buffalo Bills’ head-coaching vacancy.

A veteran of 18 NFL seasons, including 16 with the Chargers, Rivers played his final playoff game during the 2020 season in a 27-24 loss to Buffalo. Since 2021, he has served as head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, and has publicly expressed interest in pursuing coaching opportunities at the professional level following his comeback attempt.

Although Rivers has no college or NFL coaching experience, he is viewed as one of the sharpest offensive minds of his era during his playing career. Selected fourth overall in the 2004 draft, he spent most of his career with the Chargers before finishing with two seasons in Indianapolis. Rivers is the Chargers’ all-time leader in passing yards (59,271) and touchdown passes (397) and ranks sixth and eighth in NFL history in career passing touchdowns (425) and yards (63,984). He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.

Rivers had been a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class, but his return to the Colts’ active roster this season reset the clock on his eligibility, pushing his next chance for induction to 2031. Those rules, however, do not apply to coaching, leaving the door open for a transition to the sidelines.

The most recent example for a former player becoming an NFL head coach without prior college or professional coaching experience was Jeff Saturday, who was hired as the Colts’ interim coach in 2022. Saturday, a four-time All-Pro center, won his debut but lost his final seven games, including a historic collapse against the Minnesota Vikings. Indianapolis ultimately passed on Saturday for the permanent role, hiring Shane Steichen in 2023.

Buffalo’s search comes after the Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday following nine seasons and eight playoff appearances. His dismissal followed a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round, prompting the organization to begin an extensive coaching search that now includes Rivers.