The Washington Commanders hired head coach Ron Rivera in 2020 in an attempt to provide organizational stability and build a winning foundation. With new ownership at the helm, Rivera’s days with the Commanders are reportedly numbered.
In his first season as head coach, Washington went 7-9 and made the NFL playoffs. It was a positive step forward for a struggling franchise, offering hope for the future. However, the Commanders haven’t returned to the postseason since and they’re headed for their worst season in several years.
- Ron Rivera coaching record: 26-35-1 with Washington Commanders
Related: Washington Commanders coaching candidates
Rivera has been afforded opportunities to make several changes to his coaching staff, prolonging his tenure in Washington. He fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner in January, replacing him with Eric Bieniemy. Following a disastrous performance from Washington’s defense on Thanksgiving, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was fired.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on Thursday that the Commanders are unlikely to fire Rivera in-season, citing an organizational belief that he’s “done enough” to finish out the year. While he might stick around for the rest of the regular season, that appears to be it.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, it’s widely assumed around the NFL and inside the Commangers’ organization that Rivera will not be retained as head coach for the 2024 season. There’s reportedly also a possibility that Washington will bring in a new general manager.
There was reportedly no mandate from ownership for Del Rio to be fired, with Rivera making that decision following a brutal Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft
While the Commanders coaching search hasn’t begun, Bieniemy is viewed as a legitimate candidate for the position. In his first year as Washington’s play-caller, quarterback Sam Howell as thrived in the system. With a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a new general manager could start to build out the secondary and offensive line to create a more well-rounded team.
