Mike Caldwell fired: 4 DC replacements Jacksonville Jaguars should sign in a hurry

1. Ron Rivera, ex Commanders head coach

Like the Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commanders wasted no time and moved on from their head coach as soon as the regular season came to an end. In the Commanders' case, they had given Ron Rivera ample time to turn the team into a contender but he fell short. The fact current owner Josh Harris didn't hire Rivera made his firing a bit easier.

Now, Rivera should have no trouble getting on his feet. Clubs in need of a defensive coordinator should give him a call in the upcoming days. And that's the thing. Rivera might not have been a good head coach. His stint with the Carolina Panthers was mostly unremarkable, with the exception of the 2015 season, when they made the Super Bowl only to get crushed by the Denver Broncos.

Still, Rivera's solid reputation around the league helped him get the job with the Commanders. Although they were pretty average throughout his tenure, mainly because they couldn't get the offense going, Rivera put together a stout defensive front. During his watch, players such as Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Chase Young, and Montez Sweat hit their stride.

It's not hyperbole to say that the Jaguars' front seven underperformed in 2023 outside of Travon Walker and Josh Allen. Rivera could get the most out of the current bunch. The only question is whether the Jaguars would want to run a 4-3, Rivera's favored system. If they do, they may not have the personnel in place to run it. But if making a chance is what it takes to stop opponents from scoring, they won't probably mind.

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