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Philip Rivers withdraws from race to become new coach of the Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills' search for a new coach will go in a different direction

Philip Rivers has pulled out of the race to become the next head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

Rivers was interviewed by the team on Friday after expressing an interest in replacing Sean McDermott, who was fired after failing to reach the Super Bowl.

The 44-year-old quarterback played in the NFL last season, coming out of retirement to play three games for the Indianapolis Colts. Had he got the job with the Bills, he would have become the first man to have gone from playing one season to coaching the next since Norm Van Brocklin, the Hall of Fame quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960, then became the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach in 1961.

But that will not happen now as, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Rivers has withdrawn from consideration.

Philip Rivers is out of the Bills HC sweepstakes. After interviewing with Buffalo, he’s withdrawing himself from consideration, per sources. pic.twitter.com/2RhouF270c

Rivers rocking up at the Bills always seemed unlikely, at least for now, despite the obvious incentive to work alongside Josh Allen.

Rivers’ name will crop up again in NFL circles

But his name is likely to come up again soon after outlining his intention to become a HC.

Speaking earlier in January, he said: “I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level. I know enough about the game and about the guys, and from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie, all that comes with it. But, again, that’s not something that I’m sitting here pursuing. If anything I learned the last four weeks, it’s take it one day at a time. Because there was a Sunday afternoon, I had no thought of being in Indianapolis the next day. Then, 24 hours later, I was here.”

Mike McDaniel, Anthony Lynn, Anthony Weaver, Mike Udinski have also been interviewed for the Bulls’ position while it was reported today that Davis Webb is also of interest.

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Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

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