16 December 2023 , 20:19
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Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera could head up an exodus including front office staff members as new team owner Josh Harris looks to put his own stamp on proceedings.
With coach Rivera currently in his fourth year in his post, speculation has abounded that the new regime at FedEx Field would look to make changes at the end of the campaign. With Washington having failed to end a season with a winning record in NFC East since they won the conference in 2020, a parting of ways could be in store.
According to the Athletic, the plan moving forward is for Rivera's spell with the team to be brought to a close at the conclusion of the regular season. They contend that sources have told them that it has always been the vision of Harris to keep the current head coach until the end of this term.
Purportedly, Rivera's seemingly impending departure is 'really not a secret anymore', with this detail providing 'no surprises' given the change in ownership. Back in November, CBS Sports reporter Jonathan Jones reported that "it is widely assumed that [Rivera] will not be retained as head coach and the ostensible chief of football for the Commanders after the 17th game of the year."
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The Commanders are currently rooted to the bottom of the NFC East standings and their record for the season stands at 4-8 during a campaign to forget. To put their struggles into some context, their latest loss, a 45-15 defeat to the Miami Dolphins, represented their their sixth loss in their previous eight outings.
Previously, Rivera has remained coy on the subject of potentially losing his job at the end of the regular season, telling reporters last month: "I've told you before I'm not worried about anything. All I'm going to do is do my job and see how things go. That's the only thing I can do."
Likewise, his players seemed to dismiss any speculation over their head coach's future with the team, with Washington left tackle Charles Leno, Jr. among those irked by the suggestion that Rivera's days may be numbered, saying: "It's only when you guys ask. Bo one else is bringing this s**** up. We don't talk about this s*** ; we don't care about this stuff, we're listening to our coaches following game plan and trying to win games."
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New Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris could call time on Ron Rivera's position as Head Coach (John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin also questioned the wisdom of firing the head coach as he attempted to divert the pressure from Rivera. Defending the coach, he said: "Just because you make changes here or there doesn't necessarily impact the result all the time.
"I'm not in those type of discussions, but I think even my rookie year when we had some change, we still had ups and downs, McLaurin admitted, before asserting: "It's a matter of the players still having respect and pride.
He added: "You can't come in here with your head hanging down and not go hard and not give effort. I just don't think that's a reflection of how personally the player you want to be. So that's kind of my mindset."