NC State may hand its football program to one of the most famous players in school history. Philip Rivers is in serious discussions about becoming the Wolfpack's next head coach, ESPN reported Saturday.

The opening exists because NC State fired Dave Doeren in the middle of a disappointing season, launching a search that has now circled back to the program's legendary quarterback. Rivers, 44, starred for the Wolfpack before an NFL career that included eight Pro Bowl selections.

The catch: Rivers has never coached a college game. His sideline experience comes from the high school level — a coaching career he famously paused last year when he returned to the NFL after nearly five seasons without taking a snap.

Hiring a program icon with no college coaching résumé would be a significant gamble, but it is one several schools have made in recent years with former star players. If the talks progress, Rivers would jump straight from high school football to running an ACC program at his alma mater.