• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
NFL quarterback Philip Rivers is introduced May 8, 2020, as the head football coach in-waiting at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala. He signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts during the offseason and will take over the St. Michael football program after he retires. (CNS photo/Rob Herbst, The Catholic Week)

Once he retires, NFL quarterback to coach at Catholic high school

May 14, 2020
By Catholic News Service
Filed Under: News, Sports, World News

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is seen playing against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 29, 2019. He signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts during the offseason and will take over the football program at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., after he retires. (CNS photo/Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (CNS) — Philip Rivers said he fulfilled one childhood dream by playing quarterback in the NFL. He’ll soon fulfill another by coaching high school football.

The 38-year-old Rivers was named head coach-in-waiting at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope. He’ll follow in the footsteps of his father, Steve, a longtime high school football coach who’s in the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Rivers’ coaching career won’t begin immediately. He’s set to begin his 17th season in the NFL after signing a one-year, $25 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason. Paul Knapstein, athletic director at St. Michael, will serve as interim coach for at least the 2020 season. Rivers will take over once he retires from the NFL, which could be after a couple more seasons.

“It’s a special day for me and my family. I will probably get a little emotional,” said Rivers. “I (had) two childhood dreams. One was playing in the NFL. I still love that. The other was to be a high school football coach as my dad was.

“Wow, how blessed am I to be able to live both of those out?”

Rivers was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He reached eight Pro Bowls during his 16 seasons with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers, and his 59,271 passing yards rank sixth on the league’s all-time list.

He and his wife, Tiffany, are the parents of nine children. Faustin Weber, the principal at St. Michael, said Rivers’ upbringing, as the son of a longtime high school coach, as well as his Catholic faith are important attributes in the school’s eventual head coach.

“He and Tiffany are devout Catholics,” Weber said. “I believe he’s going to be a tremendous influence on the lives of our young men here and their faith life. He brings an infectious optimism and enthusiasm to whatever he does and I think he’s going to really advance our culture here and be a tremendous influence for good.

“Our mission is to build scholars, leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ and I really believe he’s going to help us advance our mission,” he said.

Rivers played high school football at Athens High School in northern Alabama, but the connection to the Gulf Coast of Alabama came a few years ago when Rivers’ family developed a relationship with a family in the area.

Rivers then conducted football camps at St. Michael each of the past two summers.

“It seemed like the perfect fit,” Rivers said. “As the days went by, we felt more and more like God had a hand in this and kind of laid it in our lap from the standpoint of location, a school with the same vision and a young football program. As time went, it made sense. It was the right fit.”

St. Michael opened in the fall 2016 and its football program will enter its third varsity football season this fall. The program has won three games the past two seasons.

“Our program will be faith, family and football,” Rivers said. “It will be built on faith, and family will be very important, and we’ll work like crazy at the football part.”

This article was written by Rob Herbst, editor of The Catholic Week, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Mobile.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Catholic News Service

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

| Latest Local News |

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

| Latest World News |

NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization

Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack

Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served

Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization
  • Creation, human and divine
  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best
  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith
  • Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack
  • Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served
  • Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says
  • Pope calls for ceasefire, dialogue, peace after church hit in Gaza
  • School club gives students chance to benefit veterans, fosters Gospel value of serving others

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED