3 first-year head coaches already showing more than Commanders’ Ron Rivera

After the Washington Commanders lost their fourth straight game to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Ron Rivera insisted it isn’t panic time. While the head coach likely didn’t want to incite panic in his players and the team’s fans, if this isn’t time to panic, then what qualifies? A winless record through five games?

Rivera is in Year 3 of a rebuild. The Commanders are 1-4 and look headed for another double-digit loss season barring an unforeseen turnaround. While Rivera deserves credit for changing the culture, the main responsibility of his job as head coach is to win football games and that’s not happening nearly enough.

After the Panthers fired Matt Rhule on Monday, Rivera’s seat is now the hottest in the league. Rivera keeps preaching that change isn’t going to happen overnight and “we have to be realistic with what we have,” but teams under the tutelage of first-year head coaches are already showing major improvement in Year 1.

3 first-year head coaches showing more than Commanders’ Ron Rivera

3. Mike McDaniel (Dolphins)

McDaniel would’ve ranked No. 1 on this list two weeks ago. Then, the Tua Tagovailoa concussion/back injury debacle happened so we have some questions about McDaniel that we previously didn’t. It’s tough to say who should be blamed for the Tagovailoa situation, but McDaniel has to shoulder some of the blame as the team’s head coach.

Putting that side, McDaniel looks the part of an up-and-coming head coach. The Dolphins have dropped two games in a row after starting the year 3-0, but that can be attributed to the Tagovailoa injury as the former No. 5 overall pick was playing the best football of his career with 8 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Still, that takes nothing away from Miami’s strong start. Remember, they knocked off the Patriots, Ravens and Bills to start the season. Quite a way for McDaniel to open his account. Like the next head coach on this list, McDaniel inherited a talented roster, but you can’t deny he has the team playing good football.

We’ll see how the Dolphins respond to their first bit of adversity under McDaniel — giving up 40 points to the Jets is never a good look — but the future is bright in South Beach under the former 49ers offensive coordinator …  so long as he escapes the Tagovailoa investigation with his job still in place.