Phillip Rivers' Quarterback Son Commits to NC State

Gunner Rivers, a four-star recruit, will follow in his father's footsteps to play college football.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Gunner Rivers, the son of former NFL quarterback Phillip Rivers, has committed to play college football at NC State, his father's alma mater. Gunner, a four-star recruit, is coming off a junior season where he threw for 2,813 yards and 44 touchdowns for St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.

Why it matters

Gunner's commitment is a big win for the NC State football program, as they hope to return to the success they had during Phillip Rivers' tenure as the Wolfpack's starting quarterback from 2000-2003. Phillip Rivers went on to have a lengthy NFL career, and his son Gunner is now following in his footsteps.

The details

Gunner Rivers, a highly touted high school quarterback, has committed to play college football at NC State, the alma mater of his father, former NFL quarterback Phillip Rivers. Gunner is a four-star recruit for the Class of 2027 and is coming off a junior season where he completed 208 of 290 passes for 2,813 yards and 44 touchdowns, while only throwing five interceptions. He led his high school team, St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama, to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the state title game this past season.

  • Gunner Rivers committed to NC State on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • Gunner Rivers is a four-star recruit for the Class of 2027.

The players

Gunner Rivers

Gunner Rivers is the son of former NFL quarterback Phillip Rivers and a highly touted high school quarterback who has committed to play college football at NC State, his father's alma mater.

Phillip Rivers

Phillip Rivers is a former NFL quarterback who played for the NC State Wolfpack from 2000-2003, where he broke nearly every conference and program passing record. He went on to have a lengthy NFL career with almost 64,000 career passing yards and 425 touchdowns.

Dave Doeren

Dave Doeren is the head coach of the NC State football program, which is hoping to get back to the success they had during Phillip Rivers' tenure as the Wolfpack's starting quarterback.

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What’s next

The commitment by Gunner Rivers is a big win for the NC State football program, as they hope to get things back to where they were during the days when his father, Phillip Rivers, was under center for the Wolfpack.

The takeaway

Gunner Rivers' commitment to NC State continues the family legacy, as he follows in his father Phillip Rivers' footsteps to play college football at the same university where his father had great success. This move highlights the continued influence of the Rivers family in the sport of football.