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Ron Rivera will enter his 13th season as an NFL head coach in 2023. Rivera enters 2023 with an overall winning record [98-90-2], but in his three seasons with Washington, Rivera has a record of 22-27-1.
In fairness to Rivera, he inherited a mess. Few coaches have ever had to deal with what Rivera has had to deal with in three seasons as head coach. Additionally, under Washington’s coach-centric model, Rivera operates as the franchise’s head of football operations.
Rivera heads into 2023, knowing he must win. The Commanders will have a new owner when the season begins, the second time Rivera has had to deal with an ownership change. Jerry Richardson sold the Carolina Panthers to David Tepper while Rivera was head coach in 2018.
With Josh Harris and his group set to take over the franchise anytime, everyone in Washington is under the microscope.
As we are just over three months away from the 2023 season, where does Rivera rank among the NFL’s 32 head coaches? Patrick Daugherty, an NFL writer for NBC Sports, recently ranked every head coach. Daugherty didn’t rank the five new hires this offseason, instead ending his list at No. 27.
Daugherty ranks Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels last at No. 27.
Daugherty has Rivera ranked No. 25, offering the following explanation:
In 12 years as an NFL head coach, Ron Rivera has won 5-8 games nine times. All three of the exceptions featured Cam Newton at quarterback. He’s won a playoff game in 2-of-12 seasons, one of which came when the 7-8-1 Panthers beat the Ryan Lindley-“led” Cardinals in 2014. The mediocrity has been accompanied by a “bad quarterback” alibi in Washington, but anyone who has only three winning campaigns in nine Newton seasons probably isn’t doing it right. With either Sam Howell or Jacoby Brissett under center for 2023, Rivera isn’t about to unlock another level to his game, but the Commanders remain committed to his leadership all the same. That is an area where Rivera excels, but even that began to founder in 2022 as he seemed driven to madness by Carson Wentz. By the end of the season, Rivera didn’t even know what it took for the Commanders to make the playoffs. Although seemingly a Hall-of-Fame person, Rivera is anachronistic coach who won’t be there by the time Washington finally takes the next step.
Daugherty makes some good points here. Some of Rivera’s decisions in Washington have drawn criticism, but he’s also displayed tremendous leadership at a time when the franchise desperately needed it. While it’s fair to criticize him, should he really be ranked below Matt Eberflus or Todd Bowles?
As we all know, rankings are 100% subjective. Some will agree on Rivera’s ranking; others would argue he should be higher or lower. Regardless, the 2023 season is likely a make-or-break season for Rivera and the Commanders with a new era looming.