The Washington Redskins have made it official, hiring former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera as their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rivera didn’t take long to start building his staff, hiring Jack Del Rio as his defensive coordinator. Del Rio, who is currently an analyst for ESPN, was previously the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
“After several meetings with Coach Rivera, it was clear he is the right person to bring winning football back to Washington, D.C.,” Redskins owner Dan Snyder said in a statement (h/t ESPN). “He is widely respected around the league as a man of great integrity and has proven to be one of the finest coaches in the country.”
Rivera, who is be formally introduced as the head coach on Thursday, was the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, each on the staff of John Fox, and produced impressive results with his units. Del Rio also served as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, prior to his tenure with the Raiders.
Rivera, 57, becomes the seventh head coach hired by Snyder.
“While I love the storied history of the franchise, I am focused on the future and excited for the opportunity to win football games with this talented young team,” Rivera said in the statement. “After meeting Dan Snyder, it was clear we are aligned in our passion for the game and he supports my vision to turn the team around. I look forward to surrounding myself with great people and getting to work.”