Black Monday cost Ron Rivera his job.
The Washington Commanders said goodbye to the 61-year-old Rivera on Monday after four seasons. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The coaches have a 26-40-1 record during Rivera's tenure, including a 4-13 mark this season, which ended in a 38-10 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.
As Washington begins its search for its next head coach, Commanders owner Josh Harris has hired former Warriors general manager Bob Myers and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman to help find the team's next head of football operations. I decided to get it. According to ESPN.
“This is an important offseason for us, and we will not shy away from doing the work necessary to get back to a place where we can deliver a winning culture from top to bottom,” Harris told ESPN in a statement. “…I have known Bob for a long time and watched him build four championship teams and a very successful organization in Golden State…He is innovative, thoughtful, He has deep connections across the sport and understands what it takes to strengthen and maintain the infrastructure of a championship.'' I think he will be an incredibly addition. ”
This decision regarding Rivera's future comes as a new ownership group led by private equity giant Harris, who also owns the Philadelphia 76ers, wants to build its own leadership team after purchasing the franchise from Daniel Snyder. It had been looming for months, as it was speculated that he was considering it. Last year it was $6.05 billion.
Rivera, 61, could have survived if his team continued on track, but that didn't happen as Washington ended the season with eight straight losses.
Ron Rivera and Arthur Smith were fired. For the latest NFL Black Monday updates, news, rumors, analysis and more, follow our live tracker.
The Commanders went 7-9 and won the NFC East in Rivera's first year, then missed the playoffs in each of Rivera's previous three seasons.
Washington lost to Tom Brady's Tampa Bay team in the wild card round that year.
Rivera took the Commander's job after nine seasons as the Panthers' head coach, a tenure marked by a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl berth in 2015-16.
As a player, he had a nine-year career as a linebacker with the Bears, including a member of the legendary 1985 defense.
It's unclear if Rivera will retire in the future or if he might take a job in the media or in the NFL league office.
Their search should be interesting for commanders.
At various points during the season, there has been speculation that the Patriots would try to trade Bill Belichick, or perhaps the Steelers for Mike Tomlin.
Harris was a minority owner within the Steelers organization before purchasing the Commanders.
Myers, who now works for ESPN after leading the Warriors to four titles, and Spielman, who was fired by the Vikings after the 2021 season, will help Harris find Washington's next leader.
ESPN reported that the two will work with Harris, his limited partners Mitch Reitz, Magic Johnson, David Blitzer and others as part of an advisory board to help shape the team's “next manager's front office and coaching staff.” “We will find a reorganization of the
Myers will reportedly be responsible for “identifying and coordinating interviews,” according to ESPN.
“I've known Josh Harris for many years and his dedication to building a championship-caliber team is what drew me here,” Myers said in a statement to ESPN. “In my experience, a championship infrastructure starts with a strong ownership group that prioritizes culture and invests in attracting the most talented and innovative leaders in the industry…This really inspires me. It's a rewarding type of opportunity and I look forward to contributing to the next chapter of this storied franchise.”
The Commanders' vacancy could be attractive to candidates, as they hold the No. 2 pick in the quarterback-centric 2024 NFL Draft.
The new coach and head of football operations wonders if Sam Howell is the quarterback of the future, or if the team will use its No. 2 pick to pick USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye or LSU's Heisman winner Jayden. They need to decide if they want to draft a top prospect like Daniels.
