Ron Rivera is entering a critical fourth season as head coach of the Washington Commanders. With a 22-27-1 record, Rivera knows he needs to win to see the fifth season of his contract in 2024.
Add in a new owner in, Josh Harris, and it means this could be a make-or-break year for Rivera.
Buy Commanders TicketsAfter last season, when Washington lost three of its final four games to miss the playoffs, Rivera knew he needed to shake things up. That shakeup began in Week 18 when Rivera started then-rookie Sam Howell at quarterback. However, if not for former quarterback Taylor Heinicke, Rivera would not have started Howell.
Rivera listened to Heinicke, who told him Howell was ready for his opportunity. Howell shined in the game, leading the Commanders to a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys. That performance immediately told Rivera Howell would be Washington’s quarterback in 2023.
The Commanders signed veteran Jacoby Brissett to compete with Howell, but Howell had an outstanding offseason all the way through the preseason.
In addition to promoting Howell, Rivera also fired former offensive coordinator Scott Turner. He interviewed several candidates, but it was clear from the beginning that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was his choice. The Commanders hired Bieniemy after the Super Bowl and gave him the additional title of assistant head coach.
Bieniemy has had significant input in how the team practices this offseason, with players embracing the changes. For Rivera, he knew he needed to shake things up.
“I had to shake it up,” Rivera told John Keim of ESPN. “I’m out of that comfort zone because for 12 years we did the same thing, and now I’m changing and adapting, and I’m working with EB. What we’ve done is change the outlook. The players get it. The best thing EB said is let’s learn to be comfortable when you’re uncomfortable.”
Of course, for Rivera to return, he needs to win. Transitioning under a new owner isn’t new for Rivera. When he was in Carolina, he was the head coach when the Panthers were sold from Jerry Richardson to David Tepper. While he initially survived the change, Tepper moved on from Rivera midway through his second season as owner after the Panthers started 5-7.
Rivera was candid in discussing his future with Keim.
“I don’t worry about that,” Rivera said about his future. “If we go 8-8-1 this year and he fires me, and next year they win the division and 40 of the 53 players we drafted, and it’s the same quarterback, I’m vindicated. Send me my Super Bowl ring. That’s the way I look at it. I want us to be right and to see this community have that excitement again.”
Rivera has been noticeably upbeat throughout training camp. After all, this is the first season since he’s been with Washington that he’s been able to focus completely on football.
He closed his interview with Keim with the following sentence.
“I want to see this area get the team it deserves to have.”
It’s nice to see Rivera pull back the curtain a bit and share his thought process on not only the franchise’s future but his as a coach.
