The Washington Commanders fired head coach Ron Rivera on Monday morning. Shortly afterward, it was revealed the Commanders hired a pair of prominent executives to help managing partner Josh Harris and the ownership group find a new head of football operations and head coach.
Bob Myers, former Golden State Warriors general manager, and Rick Speilman, former Minnesota Vikings general manager, were brought on board to assist ownership.
Myers, 48, is a former NCAA champion basketball player at UCLA who is a two-time NBA Executive of the Year as GM of the Warriors. He served as Golden State’s GM from 2012-2023 before he stepped down in June. Myers also served as the Warriors’ president of basketball operations from 2016-23.
Spielman, 61, is a longtime NFL executive who began his scouting career in 1990 with the Detroit Lions. He spent seven seasons with the Lions in scouting roles before moving to the Chicago Bears for three years as the director of pro personnel. In 2000, the Miami Dolphins hired Spielman as the vice president of player personnel, and he was promoted to GM in 2004.
Spielman left the Dolphins in 2005, working for ESPN until the Minnesota Vikings hired him in 2006 as the vice president of player personnel. He would hold that role until 2011, when he was promoted to general manager. He served as Minnesota’s GM until 2021.
Harris released a statement via ESPN.
“This is a crucial offseason for us, and we won’t shy away from the work needed to get back to a place where we can deliver a winning culture top to bottom,” Harris said in the statement via ESPN. “…I’ve known Bob a long time and watched him construct four championship teams and a highly successful organization in Golden State…He is innovative, thoughtful, well-connected across sports and understands what it takes to solidify and sustain championship infrastructure. I think he’s going to be incredibly additive.”
Myers and Spielman will serve in advisory roles to Harris and are not full-time hires.
Very important for Commanders fans to understand- source makes clear Bob Myers and Rick Spielman are advisors to Josh Harris. They are not the new full time hires. Advisors.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 8, 2024
Per the ESPN story, current Washington general manager Martin Mayhew and Executive VP of Football/Player Personnel Marty Hurney will remain with the organization for the time being, allowing the next head of football operations to determine their futures.