Ron Rivera's time with the Washington Commanders was an unmitigated disaster. The head coach seemed pleased with the culture he'd built, but this seems ill-judged when one considers what's happened in the first campaign since his departure.
The Commanders are in a much better place without Rivera at the helm. They're within touching distance of a postseason berth after gaining 10 wins for the first time since 1991. None of his first-round selections are still around thanks to general manager Adam Peters' drastic roster overhaul. That is a damning indictment of his personnel evaluation.
That hasn't stopped certain figures in the media from speculating about Rivera potentially getting head coaching consideration after one season working in the media. His reputation remains strong in league circles, even if the game seemed to pass him by over his years in Washington.
Former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera linked with Bears vacancy
Dan Pompei from The Athletic had the perfect destination for Rivera's next stop. The senior writer believes that the Chicago Bears would benefit greatly from an experienced leader to steer them back to prominence. He also feels like the linebacker-turned-coach's previous connection to the franchise makes him a strong candidate when the hiring cycle commences.
"Only one person has had a football role on both Bears Super Bowl teams. Ron Rivera was a linebacker on the 1985 champions. On the 2006 Bears that lost to the Indianapolis Colts, he was their defensive coordinator. Now he should be first in line to interview. Some will question if a defensive-minded coach like Rivera is right for the Bears because of the presence of quarterback Caleb Williams, as if a coach without an offensive background should be disqualified. Hiring a head coach with one player in mind when 53 need to be led is an absurdity. Rivera connects with players. He earns respect with authenticity, class and toughness. And apparently, these Bears need a coach who will hold players accountable."Dan Pompei, The Athletic
Any team giving Rivera serious consideration is doing so on his previous reputation before joining the Commanders. Working for Dan Snyder wasn't easy, but relationships with his disillusioned locker room weren't great before his firing. He rarely got any staffing hires right and couldn't properly evaluate the quarterback position.
As for the culture? It took a significant step forward once Dan Quinn stepped into the breach. The belief, close bonds between the players, and professional purpose are night and day compared to anything seen during Rivera's tenure. The Bears would be taking a big risk by going in this direction.
Much has been made about culture-builders versus progressive offensive or defensive minds. There could be a shift in this regard looking at the success of Quinn, Jim Harbaugh, and Dan Campbell this season. Appointing Rivera — although he has a strong connection to the team through his playing and early coaching days — sends out the wrong message.
That's of no concern to the Commanders. They have a fantastic structure in place and a bright future ahead based on their remarkable progress this season. For all of Rivera's efforts, this is something he could never accomplish.
Rivera is looking to get back into coaching. However, walking back into a head coaching job is unlikely.