The Washington Redskins introduced Ron Rivera as the new head coach of the team on Thursday afternoon, making him the ninth coach since 2000.
The press conference was opened by team owner Daniel Snyder, who introduced the new coach by stating that there was a need for a culture change in Washington, and he believed that Rivera could be the coach to help bring that. Rivera then stepped to the mic and waxed poetic about his desire to implement discipline into the franchise, allowing them to find success in the future.
Here are all of the best quotes from the press conference.
Dan Snyder starts Rivera press conference by saying “what we needed were a culture change”
— Les Carpenter (@Lescarpenter) January 2, 2020
Rivera says Snyder convinces him to come because he wanted a Seahawks, Chiefs, Patriots model centered around the head coach
— Les Carpenter (@Lescarpenter) January 2, 2020
Rivera says that Snyder studied why teams win and why teams lose. He said that Snyder presented him with the fact that winners have a head coach centered approach.
Rivera said he accepted under one condition – a player centric culture.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) January 2, 2020
Loved the honesty from Rivera about $$. He said if it was about money he could have taken other interviews and leveraged the offer. He’s right.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 2, 2020
River said he told Snyder he doesn’t have patience for a five year rebuilding process.
— Les Carpenter (@Lescarpenter) January 2, 2020
Lots of interesting things said already. Among them:
* Per Rivera, Snyder sees the value in a team centered around the coach like Pats, Seahawks, Chiefs
* Rivera said not about the money or he'd have waited to pit teams together
*Sounds like talks w/Rivera went for weeks.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 2, 2020
Rivera said Snyder told him he wants this to be Rivera’s last coaching job.
— Les Carpenter (@Lescarpenter) January 2, 2020
Rivera says they are in the interview process right now on the staff. He says they're at the beginning of the process. That included O'Connell.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) January 2, 2020
“Things will begin and end with one simple principle, discipline.” — Ron Rivera #HTTR
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) January 2, 2020
Ron Rivera says he believes Dwayne Haskins can be a franchise quarterback but that it could take time
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 2, 2020
Rivera says Haskins can become a franchise style quarterback, but it won't be an overnight thing.
He seemed to say there are some veterans who will get some looks, too.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) January 2, 2020
Rivera on why moved so fast: “I had 4 weeks off and I was ready to go back to work. I was tired of getting up and Having to do the dishes.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2020
A few days after Ron Rivera was let go from Carolina, Dan Snyder called his agent. They spoke then, and then a week later. Rivera then watched the team’s last four games and saw the fight the players had. #HTTR
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) January 2, 2020
Rivera says he’s going to collaborate with all the personnel people because of “what they’ve done in the last 3 drafts.” Bodes well for scouts and Alex Santos/Kyle Smith
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 2, 2020
Rivera says he understands the fans are disgruntled. “They deserve to be.” Rivera wants their support now and says he will give it everything to earn it.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 2, 2020
Asked about final say in personnel, Ron Rivera says it will be collaborative. If that doesn’t work he will ask Dan Snyder for help, but he thinks that won’t be necessary.
(I read that as Rivera has final say but doesn’t feel the need to say it)— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 2, 2020
Rivera asked why he believes he’ll have a different fate than past #Redskins coaches: I believe in me. I’ll bet on me.
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) January 2, 2020
Rivera on Haskins and next step in development: “he has to step up and become a leader. All the great ones become leaders… be where he needs to be and do what he’s supposed to do. It starts with the offseason.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2020
Ron Rivera says Dan Snyder was very candid in where his Redskins team has failed in the past and how he wants to build things the right way now.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 2, 2020
Rivera said he wanted to look for the right fit. Said after meeting with Dan Snyder over a period of 35 hours: “I believe this is the right fit.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 2, 2020