With Arch Manning in tow, Texas is eyeing and recruiting the son of another former NFL quarterback: Gunner Rivers, the son of former San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers star Philip Rivers
The son of another prominent former NFL quarterback could be headed to Texas after Arch Manning(Image: Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
The offspring of another former NFL quarterback could be headed to Texas to take the mantle after Arch Manning: Philip Rivers’ son, Gunner Rivers.
With Quinn Ewers being drafted by the Miami Dolphins No. 231 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Texas turned its attention to molding Manning into the quarterback of the present and the future. Manning impressed in his time as a starter for the Longhorns, with head coach Steve Sarkisian hoping the star can lead Texas to glory.
That said, while the Longhorns are focused on the present, they also are looking ahead to the future. Which is why the university is keeping tabs on Gunner Rivers, who could be the Longhorns’ next star under center when Manning declares of the NFL Draft.
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After leading St. Michael Catholic to a 12-2 record last year, which saw the sophomore throw for 3,947 yards and 36 touchdowns, the son of the former San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers legend flew out to Texas in June. Speaking to Hank South of Horns247, the young Rivers shared his experience with the Longhorns.
“It’s all at the highest level,” Gunner Rivers said. “There’s a lot of similarities. It’s just high-level ball. … Mainly the coaches. Coach Sark’s done a really good job here. Coach [AJ] Milwee, I enjoyed my time with him, too. I talked to Coach Sark after the camp, he told me I did pretty well, enjoyed it.”
The high school star concluded by stating that the program was “interested” in his services, whenever that time would be.
One of Philip Rivers’ children, Gunner Rivers, could be on his way to playing for Steve Sarkisian at Texas(Image: Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
As the Longhorns prepare for life potentially with Gunner Rivers under center, the program still has Manning in tow. The 21-year-old has been working on leading Texas, taking cues from two top-tier quarterbacks in the NFL: Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.
“Those are my guys… they’re dogs. I’ve watched some of their college film. They’re just good players, elite competitors and fun to watch,” Manning said at the Manning Passing Academy. Along with learning from watching Allen and Burrow, the young star was tabbed as the top-rated quarterback, with ESPN’s Paul Finebaum heaping praise on Manning.
“In case you have not gotten that email from the front office. He is expected to be better than Quinn Ewers. I was not that impressed with Ewers last year,” Finebaum said.
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“I think Arch Manning, had he come in Cotton Bowl, [Texas] may have had a better shot and maybe even beaten Ohio State. But he is going to be the leader of this team.”
Additionally, Kirk Hebstreit believed that the Manning clan’s decision to have the youngster go to a specific program to learn and ease his way into being a star quarterback is paying dividends as the 21-year-old looks to cement his name as a bona fide star.
“I think they wanted him to kind of simmer and marinate a bit and then be ready to go in year three,” Herbstreit said, per Forbes. “I think their plan is working to perfection at this point. If you notice, he’s not all over social media. He’s not all over the NIL space, and that’s all by design and how they’ve gone about it.
“They know that the Manning name creates unprecedented hype, and they’ve tried to keep that under wraps the best they could. Now they can’t protect it, now it’s out, now it’s here we go. He’s had two years to get himself ready for it, which I’m a fan of. He dabbled last year in enough games where he’s not a complete rookie.
“He stepped out, played against Georgia last year. He played in some games where he had to start when Quinn Ewers was down, I think it’s allowed him to kind of know what it takes to run that offensive of Sarkisian.”