Jets interview Ron Rivera for head coach position

The Jets have interviewed Ron Rivera for the Green & White head coaching position.

Rivera was most recently the head coach of the Washington Commanders from 2020 to 2023, where he had a 26-40-1 record and made the playoffs in his first season with the team. Previously, Rivera was the Panthers’ head coach from 2011 to 2019 and was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015.

Rivera, nicknamed “Riverboat Ron” for his aggressive decision-making, led Carolina to the playoffs seven times, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2015 after going 15-1 in the regular season.

Before becoming head coach, Rivera was defensive coordinator for the Chargers (2008-10) and Bears (2004-06), where he was named the Pro Football Writers of America Assistant Coach of the Year in 2005.

Rivera began his coaching career with the Bears, the team that drafted him in the second round out of Cal in 1984, as a quality control coach in 1997. He then moved to the Eagles as linebackers coach (1999-2003) under current Chiefs HC Andy Reid, where he worked with seven future head coaches, including Ravens HC John Harbaugh and Bills HC Sean McDermott, who was Rivera’s defensive back Coordinator with the Panthers from 2011-16.

Rivera, 62, born in Ford Ord, California, moved frequently during his childhood because both of his parents were in the Army. He played linebacker at Cal, where he was named consensus All-American and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1983. Rivera played in 137 games (56 starts) during his nine-year NFL career with Chicago, where he won Super Bowl XX and was part of the Bears’ historic 1985 defense under Hall of Famer Mike Ditka.

Jets chairman Woody Johnson is leading the search for a head coach and general manager. He engaged the 33rd team in a support role to help identify and screen candidates and also coordinate interviews. Jeff Ulbrich and Phil Savage serve as the team’s interim head coach and general manager, respectively.