Ron Rivera was asked Wednesday, “Do you still want to be a head coach in the league?”
Rivera was asked this because every single person following the team in the DMV is well aware, as is Rivera himself, that Sunday is it for him as head coach of the Commanders.
“Well, I know this, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it on Sunday,” replied Rivera. We all know it is coming, and so does Rivera, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the veteran NFL head coach to respond to such questions. But Rivera was direct, displaying he is not at all living in denial.
Rivera was asked if he was driving home the fact that his team can play the role of spoiler this week because Dallas is attempting to win the division, earning one, perhaps two, home playoff games.
“They’re very much aware of it. I really don’t have to,” expressed Rivera. “I think they understand this is one of the top rivalries in the NFL I don’t think it really matters what your record is. This is really about the opportunity to play against a team like this.”
Knowing he will be fired, Rivera was asked about his being able to focus on the day-to-day and not think of the big picture that awaits him next week. Without hesitation, Rivera responded, “Because I can’t control anything beyond what we do here. More so than anything else, that’s the truth of the matter.”
“That’s what I’m here for is to coach. I’ve gotten an opportunity to coach. There was a long period of time I did a lot of managing. In the last four to five weeks, it’s really been about coaching. So, just keeping focus on that has been something that I’ve tried to do and just stay where I am. You know, the old expression ‘be where your feet are’.”
Rivera first became part of an NFL coaching staff in 1997 (Chicago Bears). He became an NFL head coach with the Carolina Panthers in 2011 and was fired during the 2019 season. He has been Washington’s head coach since January of 2020.