Ron Rivera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ron Rivera

Rivera in 2022
California Golden Bears
Position:	General manager
Personal information
Born:	(1962-01-07) January 7, 1962 (age 63) Fort Ord, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Seaside (Seaside, California)
College:	California (1980–1983)
NFL Draft:	1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44
Career history
As player:
Chicago Bears (1984)
As coach:
Chicago Bears (1997) Defensive quality control coach Philadelphia Eagles (1999) Linebackers coach Chicago Bears (2004) Defensive coordinator San Diego Chargers (2007) Linebackers coach San Diego Chargers (2008) Defensive coordinator Carolina Panthers (2011) Head coach Washington Redskins / Football Team / Commanders (2020) Head coach
As executive:
California Golden Bears (2025–present) General manager
Career highlights and awards
As a player: Super Bowl champion (XX) Pop Warner Trophy (1983) Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (1983) Consensus All-American (1983) First-team All-Pac-10 (1983) 2× second-team All-Pac-10 (1981, 1982) As a coach: 2× NFL Coach of the Year (2013, 2015) Greasy Neale Award (2015) George Halas Award (2022) PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year (2005)
Career NFL statistics
Sacks: 7.5 Interceptions: 9 Fumble recoveries: 6 Touchdowns: 1
Head coaching record
Regular season:	102–103–2 (.498)
Postseason:	3–5 (.375)
Career:	105–108–2 (.493)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Ronald Eugene Rivera, born on January 7, 1962, is a well-known American football figure. He used to play and coach, and now he's a general manager for the California Golden Bears. He played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears. He was part of the 1985 team that won Super Bowl XX.

Later, Rivera became a head coach for the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Commanders. He won the NFL Coach of the Year award twice with the Panthers. Rivera played college football for the Golden Bears. He was named an All-American in 1983. The Chicago Bears picked him in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft.

His coaching career started in 1997 with the Bears. He then joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a linebackers coach. In 2004, he returned to the Bears as their defensive coordinator. In 2005, he was named Assistant Coach of the Year. He helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in 2006. In 2007, he moved to the San Diego Chargers. He coached linebackers and later became their defensive coordinator.

After three years with the Chargers, Rivera became the head coach for the Carolina Panthers. He led them to Super Bowl 50 and became their all-time leader in wins. He was fired in 2019 and became Washington's head coach in 2020. That same year, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer. By early 2021, he was considered cancer-free. Rivera is the only NFL coach to lead a team with a losing record to the playoffs more than once. He did this with Carolina in 2014 and Washington in 2020. He was fired by Washington after the 2023 season. He worked as an analyst for NFL Live before joining the Golden Bears in 2025.

Early Life and Education

Ron Rivera was born on January 7, 1962, in Fort Ord, California. His father, Eugenio Rivera, was a US Army officer from Puerto Rico. His mother, Dolores, had Mexican and Filipino roots. Because his father was in the military, Ron's family moved a lot. He lived and went to school on military bases in Germany, Panama, and Washington, D.C.. The family eventually settled in Marina, California. Ron played football at Seaside High School and graduated in 1980.

Playing Career Highlights

College Football Success

Rivera earned a football scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. He played as a linebacker for the Golden Bears. For three years, he led the team in tackles. In his final season, 1983, he received many awards. He was named an All-American. He also won the Pac-10 Football Defensive Player of the Year award. He received the Pop Warner Trophy and was named MVP of the East–West Shrine Game.

Professional NFL Journey

The Chicago Bears picked Ron Rivera in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft. He played for them as a linebacker and on special teams. In 1985, Rivera made history. He became the first American of Puerto Rican descent to win a Super Bowl. The Bears beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. In 1988, he was named the team's Man of the Year. The next year, he received the Ed Block Courage Award.

Rivera played for nine seasons before retiring after the 1992 season. He played in 137 games and started 62 of them. He had 392 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and nine interceptions.

Coaching Career Path

After retiring as a player, Rivera worked as a television analyst. He covered the Bears and college football for WGN-TV and SportsChannel Chicago. In 1997, he returned to the Bears as a defensive quality control coach.

Philadelphia Eagles Coaching Role

In 1999, Rivera became the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He worked under head coach Andy Reid. During his time there, the Eagles reached the NFC championship three years in a row. Rivera was also praised for helping linebacker Jeremiah Trotter become a two-time All-Pro player.

Chicago Bears Defensive Leader

Rivera was named defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears on January 23, 2004. In 2005, the Bears' defense was ranked second in the league. The team won the NFC North division with an 11–5 record. They lost in the playoffs to the Carolina Panthers. For his great work that year, Rivera was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

In 2006, the Bears' defense was ranked third in points allowed. This helped them reach Super Bowl XLI. Even though the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts, Rivera's success made him a top candidate for head coaching jobs. In February 2007, his contract with the Bears was not renewed. He interviewed for head coach positions with teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.

San Diego Chargers Experience

In February 2007, Rivera was hired by the San Diego Chargers. He started as their inside linebackers coach. In October 2008, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

Carolina Panthers Head Coach

Rivera as Carolina Panthers head coach, 2016

On January 11, 2011, Ron Rivera became the fourth head coach of the Carolina Panthers. He was the third Latino head coach in NFL history. In his first year, the Panthers finished with a 6–10 record. In 2012, they finished 7–9. Early in his time with the Panthers, Rivera was known for making safe decisions.

After a tough start in the 2013 season, Rivera began to make more aggressive choices. The Panthers then won 11 of their next 12 games. This included a team-record eight-game winning streak. They won the NFC South division and made the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Rivera was named the 2013 AP NFL Coach of the Year. Fans and media gave him the nickname "Riverboat Ron" for his new, bold decisions. He even used it on his social media.

In 2014, the Panthers started 3–8–1 but won their last four games. They clinched the NFC South for the second year in a row. They beat the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card Round. This was their first playoff win since 2005. They then lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

The team continued its success in 2015. The Panthers had their best season ever, finishing 15–1. Their only loss was to the Atlanta Falcons. Rivera won his second AP NFL Coach of the Year award. The Panthers were the top team in the NFC playoffs. They beat the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. This led them to Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos. The Panthers lost the Super Bowl 24–10.

In 2016, the Panthers struggled and finished 6–10. They did not make the playoffs. They improved in 2017, finishing 11–5 and making the playoffs. However, they lost to the New Orleans Saints. Rivera signed a two-year contract extension in January 2018. The Panthers finished 7–9 in 2018 and missed the playoffs.

After a 5–7 start to the 2019 season, Rivera was fired on December 3, 2019. He had been the head coach for nine seasons. He finished his time with the Panthers with four playoff appearances. His total record was 79–67–1, which are both team records.

Washington Commanders Head Coach

Rivera as Washington Commanders head coach, 2022

On January 1, 2020, Rivera was hired as the 30th head coach of the Washington Commanders. He brought in many former assistant coaches from his time with the Panthers. Rivera also had a lot of power over the team's player decisions. He acted as the team's general manager until 2021.

Rivera's first season with Washington had many challenges. He had to build a new team culture and help with the team's name change. The season was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of that, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment during the season. Despite these difficulties, Rivera led the team to win the NFC East division with a 7–9 record. This was similar to his 2014 Panthers team that also won their division with a losing record.

In the 2021 offseason, Rivera brought in quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was injured in the first game, so Taylor Heinicke became the starter. The team finished with a 7–10 record.

For the 2022 offseason, Carson Wentz was traded to the team. Rivera said he was directly responsible for this move. After a 2–4 start, Rivera named Heinicke the starter again. Heinicke helped the Commanders stay in playoff contention. However, Rivera benched him for Wentz before Week 17. The Commanders lost that game and missed the playoffs. Rivera was criticized for not knowing the team's playoff situation after the game. The team finished 8–8–1.

In 2023, Rivera replaced his offensive coordinator. He announced that Sam Howell would be the starting quarterback. Rivera also took over as interim defensive coordinator for the second half of the season. The Commanders were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15. After the team finished the 2023 season with a 4–13 record, Rivera was fired on January 8, 2024.

Administrative Career

California Golden Bears General Manager

On March 20, 2025, Ron Rivera was announced as the general manager for his old college team, California. He oversees their budget and football staff. His contract runs through 2028.

Head Coaching Record

Personal Life and Family

Rivera and his wife Stephanie in 2020

Ron Rivera is Catholic and has three brothers: Steven, Mickey, and John. He is married to Stephanie (née Tamayo). They met at Cal in August 1983 and married in 1984. Stephanie, who is Filipino American, played point guard for the Golden Bears women's basketball team. She later coached basketball, including as an assistant for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.

Ron and Stephanie have two children, Christopher and Courtney. Courtney played for the UCLA Bruins softball team. She has also worked as a social media producer for her father's teams. Ron's nephew, Vincent, was hired as a defensive quality control coach under him in Washington in 2020.

Rivera's childhood hero was Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente. Clemente died in a plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims. Rivera was inducted into the California Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.

In January 2015, Rivera's home in Charlotte, North Carolina caught fire. He and his family escaped safely. In 2020, after becoming Washington's head coach, Rivera held a charity yard sale at his old home. He sold Panthers gear and raised over $30,000 for the humane society in Charlotte.

Health and Awards

In August 2020, Rivera was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in his neck. His family has a history with cancer. His brother Mickey died from pancreatic cancer in 2015, and his mother Dolores from lung cancer in 2022. However, Rivera's cancer was found early. He underwent seven weeks of treatment, including proton therapy and chemotherapy. He only missed three practices, but he lost over 30 pounds. He sometimes needed IV fluids during games due to fatigue. The team organized a "Rivera Strong" campaign to support him. By January 2021, Rivera was considered cancer-free.

In April 2021, he donated $100,000 to a charity event for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In 2022, he received the George Halas Award for overcoming his health challenges. In April 2022, Rivera joined the Washington Speakers Bureau. In 2024, he worked as an analyst for NFL Live on ESPN and for Westwood One.

See also

In Spanish: Ron Rivera para niños