The Jets have completed an interview with Ron Rivera for the Green & White's head coach position.
Rivera was most recently the head coach of the Washington Commanders from 2020-23 where he had a 26-40-1 record and made the playoffs his first season with the team. Before that, Rivera served as the Panthers head coach from 2011-2019 and was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and '15.
Rivera, who was given the nickname "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 he was a head coach, Rivera was the 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 '05.
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 went to the Eagles as their linebackers coach (1999-2003) under current Chiefs HC Andy Reid where he overlapped with seven future head coaches including Ravens HC John Harbaugh and Bills HC Sean McDermott, whom was Rivera's defensive coordinator with the Panthers from 2011-16.
Rivera, 62, born in Ford Ord, CA, moved frequently throughout his childhood as both his parents were in the Army. He played linebacker at Cal where, in 1983, he a consensus All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Rivera played in 137 games (56 starts) throughout his nine-year NFL career with Chicago where he won Super Bowl XX and was part of the historic 1985 Bears defense under Hall of Famer Mike Ditka.
Jets Chairman Woody Johnson is leading the searches for a head coach and general manager. He hired The 33rd Team in a support role to help identify and vet candidates in addition to coordinate interviews. Jeff Ulbrich and Phil Savage are serving as the team's interim head coach and general manager, respectively.
