The Carolina Panthers have fired coach Ron Rivera following an embarrassing loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Here’s what owner David Tepper said about the decision, per the team’s official website.
“I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team. . . I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community. I wish him the best. I will immediately begin the search for the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers.”
The next coach hasn’t been decided yet, but they have a short-term plan already.
According to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, secondary coach Perry Fewell has been named the interim head coach. Norv Turner will be a special assistant.
With #Panthers coach Ron Rivera out, secondary coach Perry Fewell was named interim head coach. OC Norv Turner will transition to special assistant to the head coach, and QB coach Scott Turner will serve as offensive coordinator. … Major changes in Carolina.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 3, 2019
Rivera leaves behind a complicated legacy. His time as head coach in Charlotte lasted eight seasons and 12 games. He went 76-63-1 during the regular season and 3-4 in the playoffs.
The team reached its peak under Rivera in the 2015 season, when they went 15-1 and made it to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Broncos. Rivera won the Coach of the Year award twice.
Nevertheless, the NFL is, always has been and always will be a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of business. Rivera’s failures over the last few seasons to compete in a crowded NFC South division must have been a major factor working against him.
Considering the amount of talent Rivera had to work with, it feels like this group underachieved. Perhaps the next coach can do better.
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