Redskins Hire Ron Rivera as Next Head Coach

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Ron Rivera wasn't out of a head coaching job for long. 

Just weeks after getting fired by the Panthers, the Redskins have hired Rivera as their next head coach, the team announced Wednesday. 

"After several meetings with Coach Rivera, it was clear he is the right person to bring winning football back to Washington D.C.," said owner Dan Snyder in a statement. "He is widely respected around the league as a man of great integrity and has proven to be one of the finest coaches in the country."

Washington will give Rivera a five-year contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rivera has reportedly hired former Raiders and Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio as the Redskins' new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Carolina fired Rivera on Dec. 3 after nine seasons with the team. He led the Panthers to a 76-63-1 regular-season record, while also going 3–4 in the playoffs. Carolina won three NFC South titles during Rivera's tenure and the 2015 NFC Championship en route to its Super Bowl 50 appearance against the Broncos.

The Redskins hired Rivera after finishing the 2019 season 3-13, their worst mark since ’13. Washington fired head coach Jay Gruden after getting off to an 0-5 start and relieved Bruce Allen from his role as head of football operations this week.

Washington will be entering 2020 with a number of questions on both sides of the football, but the team appears to have both a quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins and a top WR in Terry McLaurin, among other talents.

Prior to his time in Carolina, Rivera was the defensive coordinator for both the Chargers and Bears. He played linebacker for Chicago for eight seasons between 1984-92, helping the team win Super Bowl XX.

Rivera and the Redskins will have the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.