Commanders' Ron Rivera Dealing Second Ownership Change in Coaching Career
Becoming one of 32 head coaches in the NFL is rare.
What's even more rare is finding yourself in nearly the same situation just a few years later. That's the position Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera finds himself in entering his fourth year with the franchise.
During his tenure with the Carolina Panthers, the franchise was sold to current owner David Tepper in the summer of 2018. After going 7-9 in 2018, Rivera got fired the following season after Carolina was 5-7 through week 13.
In almost nine seasons as the Panther's head coach, Rivera was 76-63 in the regular season and 3-4 across four playoff appearances. Carolina reached the Super Bowl in the 2015 season before losing to the Denver Broncos 24-10.
Now, Rivera is an eerily similar situation with the Commanders.
Josh Harris is seemingly on the doorstep of buying the franchise from Dan Snyder. Should that be finalized, Rivera will have his second owner during his tenure with Washington.
Harris is also the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA and New Jersey Devils in the NHL.
After the 76ers fell short of a conference championship appearance this postseason, Harris fired head coach Doc Rivers. While it's tough to compare across two difference sports, the move could give insight to how Harris will handle things if Washington disappoints in 2023.
Another potential sign into how new ownership in Washington will handle business is the Walton-Penner Ownership Group, who just bought the Denver Broncos. The group had no ties to former head coach Nathaniel Hackett because he was hired before they bought the franchise, and he was fired before the end of his first season.
While operating on unsteady ground is far from ideal, that's the hand Rivera has been dealt twice. A new ownership group with no ties to Rivera can go one of two ways. The new owner could give Rivera a year to operate before they change the organization in the image it wants. Or, they could just want to clean house and begin laying the foundation it seeks right away.
Regardless, the pressure is on for Rivera to succeed if he's going to remain Washington's head coach for the foreseeable future.
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