There are just two NFL head coaching vacancies left, and the Arizona Cardinals‘ search has largely flown under the radar. While many are curious to see which of the apparent finalists the Las Vegas Raiders will hire, the Cardinals’ job feels even more wide open.
While the New York Jets are reaching out to all sorts of candidates for positions on Aaron Glenn’s coaching staff, the Cardinals’ latest addition to their completed interviews list is quite fascinating too. And this one wasn’t widely reported, if at all, before the chat took place. Yet, that’s how the Cardinals have operated during this coaching search.
According to The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini, the Cardinals recently completed a head coaching interview with Ron Rivera. The two-time NFL Coach of the Year led the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2019. He’d lead them to a 76-63-1 record, which included a Super Bowl appearance in 2015.
Rivera then landed a job as the Washington Commanders‘ head coach from 2020 to 2023. But he wasn’t nearly as successful. Rivera struggled to a 26-40-1 record before being let go.
After spending 2024 away from football, Rivera resurfaced as the general manager of college football’s California Golden Bears in 2025.
Now, the 64-year-old suddenly appears to be in the mix for his third NFL head coaching opportunity, bringing a 102-103-2 record to the table. The Cardinals are the only team he’s interviewed with in this hiring cycle.
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