New York Jets Interview Ron Rivera for Head Coach Position
The New York Jets interviewed former Washington and Carolina coach Ron Rivera on Thursday, the first known head coaching candidate to meet with the team.
About Ron Rivera
Rivera went 26-40-1 during a four-year stint with the Commanders, leading Washington to the playoffs during his first season with the team in 2020. He was fired last January after a 4-13 season.
Rivera, who turns 63 next Tuesday, is the only coach in NFL history to have led teams with losing records to the playoffs more than once, having done so with Carolina (7-8-1) in 2014 and Washington (7-9) in 2020.
Rivera’s Coaching Career
He led the Panthers to the postseason four times during his tenure in Carolina from 2011 to 2019, including a Super Bowl appearance in the 2015 season when the team went 15-1 in the regular season and eventually lost to Denver in the title game.
Nicknamed “Riverboat Ron” for his aggressive decisions on the field, Rivera has a career record of 105-108-2, including 3-5 in the playoffs.
Playing Career and Assistant Coaching Stint
He played in 137 games, including 56 starts, during a nine-year playing career with Chicago where he was a linebacker on the Bears team that won the Super Bowl during the 1985 season behind its exceptional “46” defense under coach Mike Ditka and coordinator Buddy Ryan.
Rivera served as an assistant for the Chargers and Bears before becoming a head coach.
Other Candidates Interviewed
ESPN analyst and former NFL safety Louis Riddick also interviewed with the team for their general manager vacancy. Riddick, who previously worked in the front offices of Washington and Philadelphia, is the fourth known GM candidate to meet with the Jets.
About Louis Riddick
Riddick joined ESPN in 2013 and serves as an NFL and college football analyst on the network and ABC. He interviewed with Detroit and Houston for their GM openings during the 2020 offseason.
Riddick, a ninth-round pick by San Francisco in the 1991 draft out of Pittsburgh, had 155 tackles and two sacks during six NFL seasons with the Falcons, Browns, and Raiders.
Conclusion
The New York Jets are searching for a new head coach and general manager after the departure of Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas. Ron Rivera and Louis Riddick are two of the many candidates being considered for the positions. The Jets will likely continue to interview candidates before making their final decisions.
FAQs
Q: Who is Ron Rivera?
A: Ron Rivera is a former NFL coach who led the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers to the playoffs multiple times during his career.
Q: What is Louis Riddick’s background?
A: Louis Riddick is a former NFL safety and current ESPN analyst. He has worked in the front offices of Washington and Philadelphia and has interviewed for general manager positions with other teams.
Q: Who else has interviewed for the Jets’ head coach and general manager positions?
A: The Jets have also interviewed Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy, former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, and former Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson for the general manager job. Former Jets coach Rex Ryan is also expected to interview for the head coach position.
