Report: Cowboys have interest in Ron Rivera as defensive coordinator if Dan Quinn leaves.
The Dallas Cowboys’ season ended with a road win against the Washington Commanders in Week 18. It was also the final game for the rest of the staff.
Shortly after the regular season ended, the Commanders announced that they would be replacing head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera was appointed in the same cycle of 2020 as Mike McCarthy and has finished every season with a record below.500, albeit his first year was good enough to win the division.
Rivera has extensive experience in the NFL, having served as head coach for the Carolina Panthers since 2011. Coaches with extensive experience typically do not transition to coordinator roles, making his interview with the Philadelphia Eagles noteworthy.
Philly hired Vic Fangio for defense and Kellen Moore for offense, leaving Rivera looking for a new position. If Dan Quinn, the current Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator, leaves, he may assume Rivera’s old job in Washington, including the skipper role with the Seattle Seahawks. Dallas will then hunt for a replacement.
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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Sunday, Dallas is interested in Rivera in that hypothetical.5 free agents the Cowboys could reunite with this offseason
“What happens if Dan Quinn leaves the Dallas Cowboys?” Here’s a fascinating one. Ron Rivera has already interviewed for the Eagles’ defensive coordinator position. I’m told the Cowboys are considering Rivera as their defensive coordinator if Dan Quinn quits. You could have the former Commanders coach become the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.”
Washington’s defense was fairly okay two years ago, but for the most part it has been a bit of a tough scene under Rivera which is not a great look for him given that defense is his specialty.
To be fair to Rivera, the Commanders sort of punted the 2023 season at the trade deadline as they dealt away Montez Sweat and Chase Young. But still the Washington group has been one that Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy have exposed a lot over the last four years, it is hard to imagine how Cowboys could have seen it up close and personal so often and wanted it as a part of their organization.
Perhaps the Cowboys want Rivera’s leadership qualities in command of their defense, which is one of the few things he appears to excel at. Rivera established a great culture with the Carolina Panthers and did everything he could (a hard task) to guide the Washington organization through a lot of challenges.
Rivera interviewed for the Cowboys’ head coaching position many moons ago. He interviewed for the job in 2007, but Wade Phillips eventually got it. Maybe he’ll finally join the team right now.
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