Right after getting hired as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Liam Coen wasted no time putting his staff together. He's already filled several positions but is still looking for extra voices to join the team. Just recently, the Jags inquired with a former NFL head coach to gauge his interest in potentially joining them.
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated reports that Jacksonville interviewed former Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera for an unspecified role with the team.
Shipley points out that there's no clear connection between Coen and Rivera but a senior assistant role would make sense for the former head coach.
A linebacker for the Chicago Bears' 85 Super Bowl team, Rivera began his coaching career as an assistant in the Windy City in 1997 and became the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles two years later. He kept working his way through the ranks and became the head coach for the Panthers in 2011.
Early in his stint in Carolina, Rivera became known for his conservative approach to football. However, a switch flipped a couple years later, and he became known as Riverboat Ron, a coach known for gambling and taking chances.
Eventually, the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50 with Rivera at the helm but lost to the Denver Broncos. He was dismissed in 2019 but became the head coach of the then-Washington Football Team just one year later.
After four seasons with the Commanders, Riverboat Ron spent a year away from the NFL, and his meeting with the Jaguars may indicate that he's ready to return to the gridiron.
Why it makes sense for new Jaguars head coach Liam Coen to add Ron Rivera to his staff
There's no doubt that Liam Coen deserved an opportunity to be an NFL head coach. Legendary NFL quarterback Peyton Manning recently said as much. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense, especially the running game, will benefit from his arrival. Having said that, Jacksonville could use an experienced voice.
Think about it, Coen is a first-time head coach. Similarly, this is the first time defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile will have the position. Add the fact that Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is the favorite to fill the offensive coordinator position, and Rivera would be a welcome presence in the coaching staff.
You could make the case that Rivera lost his curveball late in his stint with the Panthers, or that his tenure in Washington didn't go well. However, he hasn't forgotten how to coach or lead a football team. Having him around would be great for Coen, who will most likely experience the bumps and bruises of being a rookie head coach.
As a senior assistant, Rivera could make suggestions on what to improve or what's working without stepping on Coen or Campanile. And in the worst-case scenario, that Riverboat Ron isn't a fit, the Jaguars can simply move on from him next year.
The bottom line is that Liam Coen's Jacksonville Jaguars don't have much to lose but plenty to win if they bring in a grizzled coach like Ron Rivera.