09 September 2023 , 17:46
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The new owner of the Washington Commanders provided an update on Ron Rivera’s future.
The 61-year-old has been the head coach of the NFC East franchise since 2020 but with Josh Harris, and those who invested in his consortium now at the helm, they may make some changes starting with the team boss. Harris, who also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's New Jersey Devils, claimed that Rivera’s future will depend on the team’s results.
“I've really enjoyed getting to know Coach Rivera. He's a good man,” the 58-year-old told the Washington Post. “He's done a great job getting the team to where it is relative to where it was when he got that. We've said, 'We're getting up to speed. We want to hear how you think, we want to learn how you make decisions.'
“And it's going really well. Everyone who coaches an NFL team or an NBA team, and us as owners, we all realize that ultimately we have to deliver wins on the field. So you don't really need to say anything. It's just out there. But so far, so good."
In his first season in charge of the Commanders in 2020, Rivera led the team to their first playoff appearance since 2015. They also captured the NFC East title that year, before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round.
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Rivera is the only coach in NFL history to have led a team with a losing record to the playoffs more than once, doing so with the Carolina Panthers in 2014 and the Commanders six years later. The latter has failed to reach the postseason since then, and last season they finished at the bottom of the NFC East, winning just half of the 16 games they played.
Rivera also knows for him to continue in his job beyond this season Washington must do better on the field. "You can already feel the impact," he said prior to training camp. "A lot has to do with the reaction from the fan base. Our guys have also felt it. The guys, they're getting into this. It's kind of unique."
Rivera is under pressure to turn the fortunes of the Commanders around this season (Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)He added: "I've got a lot to prove because I really do think we've put ourselves in a really good position. We're a good young team with key veterans at key positions. Now is the opportunity to go. We've been too close. It's time now to sustain it and just proving that these are the guys, these are the coaches, that I'm the right guy to help this organization continue to go forward."
The Commanders are set to commence their season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday following three preseason victories. A new era also began with Harris as owner, after the team was sold to a group featuring NBA icon Magic Johnson in July. Reports stated that the deal to complete the sale of the franchise was worth $6 billion.
"On behalf of our entire ownership group - including Mitch Rales, my long-time sports business partner David Blitzer and Earvin Magic Johnson - I want to express how excited we are to be considered by the NFL to be the next owners of the Washington Commanders and how committed we are to delivering a championship-caliber for this city and its fanbase,” Harris’ statement read.