The Washington Commanders are expected to fire coach Ron Rivera on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The team is entering its final game of a disappointing season with a 4–12 record and it will be the last game of Rivera’s four-year tenure with the franchise.
Rivera was hired in January 2020 after an impressive stretch with the Carolina Panthers that included a Super Bowl appearance and two AP Coach of the Year awards, but he was never able to replicate the same success in Washington. Since he was hired, the team has compiled a 26–39 record. The Commanders made the postseason in his first year but lost that matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to be among the candidates for the job, per the report. The status of general manager Martin Mayhew is also in doubt, but any decision on his future will not be immediate. New owner Josh Harris took the team over in 2023 after a long and controversial era under Daniel Snyder. Now, the franchise is poised to be one of the most attractive job destinations in the NFL thanks to its draft position and stable ownership.
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Rivera’s last game in Washington is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday against the Cowboys (11–5) on Fox.
