His return might not come as a head coach, but Ron Rivera could soon be back in the NFL.
According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, Rivera met with the Jacksonville Jaguars over the weekend to discuss a potential role on first-year head coach Liam Coen’s staff.
Shipley writes:
The specifics of the role and title Rivera met with the team for are unknown at the time of this writing, but it would make logical sense for Rivera to join the staff as a senior assistant. As it stands today, the Jaguars have a first-year head coach and a first-year defensive coordinator in Anthony Campanile at the top of their staff, so Rivera’s experience could pay off in a big way.
Rivera, of course, spent almost a decade as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. He still stands as the organization’s winningest coach in its 30-year history—having led the Panthers to three NFC South titles and their second-ever Super Bowl appearance between 2011 and 2019.
The 63-year-old also interviewed for the New York Jets’ previously-vacant head-coaching position earlier this offseason. That opening was filled by former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.