Ron Rivera offers clue to Commanders decision with frank interview admission

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Ron Rivera has been head coach of the Washington Commanders since 2020 (Image: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Ron Rivera has been head coach of the Washington Commanders since 2020 (Image: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has admitted that he does not know what the future holds for his position as the team's head coach.

The Commanders head into Week 18 of the NFL regular season with a 4-12 record and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Washington faces NFC East divisional rivals the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, in what could be Rivera's final game in charge.

According to ESPN, new Commanders owner Josh Harris is expected to begin making big decisions at the franchise in the coming weeks, which could involve a change of head coach. Although, a decision is not expected to be made on Sunday, given it's Rivera's 62nd birthday.

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Rivera has been coach of the Commanders since 2020 and is nearing the end of his fourth season in charge. During that time Washington has not had a single winning season and has won 26 of a possible 66 regular season games.

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Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rivera reflected on his coaching career which began in the 1990s before he first became a head coach in 2011. The 61-year-old admitted that he was uncertain of what the future held for him, and instead insisted that he is fully focused on preparing the team to face the Cowboys.

“There’s some really fond memories I’ll have of it,” Rivera told reporters, via USA Today. “See, now I’m reflecting. There really are. And we’ll see what happens.

"I mean, nobody knows what’s going to happen. All I know is we play on Sunday. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and play, see what happens.

"Somebody asked me earlier today, 'How do you get motivated for this game?' I said, 'Hell, it’s Dallas. How do you not get motivated?'

"So that’s kind of the cool deal for me. But, like I said, the last five weeks have been fun. They really have. Doing the things that we’ve done and, playing certain things, and working with guys, that’s what coaching is about to me. And then watching some of the growth.”

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Washington will have the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft should the team lose to the Cowboys on Sunday. The Chicago Bears already have the No.1 overall pick - via the Carolina Panthers, while the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals are also in the mix with Washington for the second overall selection with just one game remaining.

Quarterback Sam Howell was initially benched by the Commanders for Week 17 in favor of Jacoby Brissett. However, a hamstring injury to Brissett meant that Howell started the loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The 2024 NFL Draft is expected to see several quarterbacks drafted in the first round. Caleb Williams is projected to be the number one overall pick, while Drake Maye, Bo Nix, and Jayden Daniels are also in contention to be drafted in the first round and could be players the Commanders are looking at as the 2023 season draws to a close.

Mark Wakefield

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