Redskins introduce Ron Rivera as head coach, say he will have broad authority

When friends asked Rivera what he would look for in his next coaching opportunity after he was fired by the Panthers in December, he said he simply replied, “fit.”

He became convinced the Redskins were the right fit after multiple meetings with Snyder, and phone calls that started almost immediately after he lost his job.

“We went through every aspect of the organization,” Rivera said. ” … I spent a lot of time getting to know the organization. I talked about my plan and what I wanted to do.”

Rivera recalled visiting RFK Stadium during his playing days with the Bears and discussed a desire to restore that level of excitement among a fan base that hasn’t seen a playoff win since the 2005 season.

When asked about the makeup of his staff, including whether offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell would be retained, Rivera said he’s in the interview process right now.

“We’re in the beginning of it, and it’s going to take a little bit of time,” he said.

Rivera also stressed a need for discipline.

“Things will begin and end with one simple principle: Discipline,” said Rivera, who went 76-63-1 in nine seasons with the Panthers before being fired in December. “I come from a military family where discipline, it isn’t taught; it’s lived. It’s expected from Day One. I have a philosophy that every player, every coach, everyone who works for this organization, they’ll know it from Day One. You’re not going to play for this team, you’re not going to work for this team if you don’t have the discipline and commitment to give us everything you have. No exceptions, no excuses.”

Rivera began his remarks by explaining why he chose to take the job in Washington.

“It’s not about the money. If I wanted the money, I’d still be out there trying to pit a couple of teams against each other,” said Rivera, whose name was also mentioned in connection with other NFL coaching jobs. “I took this job for one simple reason, because Dan Snyder came to me with a very interesting perspective. For weeks, he’s explored the reasons why some teams win and some teams don’t. He told me the common factor in that transitional success — of teams like the Patriots, the Seahawks and the Chiefs and some of the other ones — was the decision to take it and make it a coach-centered approach. Not an owner-centered approach, or a team president, or a GM, but a coach-centered approach. I told Mr. Snyder that I appreciate the fact that he believes the head coach matters. I told him I would be honored, but under one condition: It had to be a player-centered culture, something I truly do believe in.”

Owner Daniel Snyder introduced Ron Rivera, speaking briefly before Rivera took the microphone.

“What the Redskins have needed is a culture change, someone that can bring a winning culture to our organization,” Snyder said. “It starts and ends with a head coach.”

The owner also said “one thing that’s very, very important is we’re going to have one voice and only one voice alone, and that’s the coach’s.”

Snyder also wished the audience a Happy Thanksgiving.

Darrell Green, Ken Harvey and Rickey Ervins are among the former Redskins Park for Ron Rivera’s introduction. Several of Rivera’s new players, including Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson and Jonathan Allen, are seated in the front row, along with his new defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio. Other notables in attendance include Redskins quarterback Alex Smith, director of pro personnel Alex Santos, senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams and, of course, owner Daniel Snyder.

Rivera was 76-63-1 in nine seasons with the Panthers, including four playoff berths and one trip to the Super Bowl, before being fired after a loss to the Redskins on Dec. 1. He replaces interim coach Bill Callahan, who went 3-8 after taking over for the fired Jay Gruden in October.

“I think it’s pretty tremendous to be able to come and be part of something that’s very special,” Rivera said when he arrived at Redskins Park on Thursday morning. “This is an organization that started in 1932, so there’s a tremendous amount of history, a tremendous amount of winning history. I would love to be able to follow in the steps of somebody as well known as Joe Gibbs. I just love that opportunity, so I’m really excited about it, being here.”