Ron Rivera is a former American football player and current head coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a consensus All-American linebacker. Rivera was drafted in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, where he played for nine seasons and won a Super Bowl in 1985.
After retiring as a player, Rivera began his coaching career as a defensive quality control coach for the Bears in 1997. He then served as a linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers. In 2011, Rivera was hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, where he led the team to three NFC South division titles and an appearance in Super Bowl 50.
In 2020, Rivera was hired as the head coach of the Washington Football Team, becoming the first Hispanic head coach in franchise history. In his first season with the team, he led them to a division title and a playoff appearance.
Throughout his career, Rivera has been known for his defensive expertise and his ability to develop young players. He has also been recognized for his leadership and his commitment to social justice causes. In 2020, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, but continued to coach the Washington Football Team while undergoing treatment.
Overall, Ron Rivera has had a successful career in football as both a player and a coach. He has won a Super Bowl as a player and has led his teams to multiple division titles and a Super Bowl appearance as a coach. He is respected throughout the league for his knowledge of the game and his leadership abilities, and he continues to make an impact both on and off the field.
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