Ron Rivera has said that he is willing to work as a defensive coordinator in the NFL next season for the first time in over a decade, and he has already landed an interview with one of the top teams in the league.
Rivera interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday for their defensive coordinator job, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The Eagles fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai over the weekend. They also are not bringing back defensive assistant Matt Patricia, who took over playcalling duties late in the season.
Rivera’s last defensive coordinator job was with the then-San Diego Chargers in 2010. The team led the NFL in total defense that season, which helped Rivera generate more interest as a head coach candidate. He was then hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
Rivera coached the Panthers for eight-plus seasons before coaching Washington for four.
The Eagles are bringing back head coach Nick Sirianni despite their late-season collapse. Their defense was in shambles during their Wild Card round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it makes sense that they want to revamp their coaching staff. Rivera would bring a lot of experience and a proven track record.
