Report: Redskins interested in former Panthers HC Ron Rivera

The Carolina Panthers’ decision to fire longtime head coach Ron Rivera during the season caught a lot of people by surprise.

At the very least, the respected football man deserved the opportunity to finish out the season.

Once the Super Bowl head coach was dismissed, it became obvious that Rivera would garner a lot of interest on the market.

That’s now apparently the case. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Rivera is a top head coaching candidate with the Washington Redskins specifically showing interest.

Former #Panthers coach Ron Rivera has emerged as a top coaching candidate & has told people he expects a deal to come together quickly, sources say. It could even be 24 hours after Week 17 ends. The #Redskins have interest, tho other teams without openings yet are also circling.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 28, 2019

Washington is currently playing under interim head coach Bill Callahan after firing Jay Gruden earlier in the season. The fit seems to be there.

Rivera, 57, finished 76-63-1 in eight-plus seasons as the Panthers’ head coach. That included a trip to the Super Bowl in 2015 and four playoff appearances.