Forming early impressions
Ron Wolf, then Packers general manager, knew Rivera had the right stuff.
“First of all Marco was a tough guy with a great work ethic,” Wolf said. “He was sixthrounder, a late bloomer, who worked his tail to become a better player. He had the pride and drive to become a starter for us and then a Pro Bowl player. He took advantage of his talent and ability and every opportunity to improve.”
Rivera made the roster his rookie season, but would not see the field in the regular- or postseason as Green Bay fulfilled expectations and won Super Bowl XXXI. But he listened and learned in team meetings, the weight room, and on the practice field.
And he was mentored by center Frank Winters, a Plan B free-agent acquisition who showed Rivera the ropes and how to be a technician at his craft.
“Frank was a wily vet and he went through a lot so we kind of gravitated toward each other,” he said. “1996 was definitely a tough year for me, questioning myself if I was good enough and earning a place on the team.”
Watching his teammates defeat the New England Patriots from the sideline of the Superdome in New Orleans fueled Rivera’s hunger to earn a starting berth at right guard in the coming years.
“Mike Flanagan and I watched and cheered on our teammates,” he said. “But of course wishing we could be out there playing too.
“That team was something special, winning the Super Bowl and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back home to Green Bay after all those years.”
‘One of my favorite players’
Rivera then made a move that Wolf said was
Proving dependable
Rivera became a starter in 1998 at left guard and then switched to right guard at the urging of line coach Tom Lovat.
“I bought into it,” he said. “I was fortunate to have great coaches like Lovat and Larry Beightol and was working hard in the weight and film rooms and eating right.”
Rivera proved to be one of the most durable linemen in Green Bay history, starting 99 straight regular-season games through the 2004 season.
“I prided myself on my toughness and playing through injuries,” he said. “You don’t want to give management options by seeing someone else playing in your position.”
He joined the ranks of the franchise’s elite linemen by starting seven straight seasons at guard, second only to Jerry Kramer’s mark of nine straight from 1958-66. Rivera was named to the Pro Bowl three times (2002-04) and earned All-Pro recognition in 2003.
Rivera was part of one of the league’s best offensive lines (Chad Clifton, Mike Wahle, Mike Flanagan and Mark Tauscher), which paved the way to running back Ahman Green’s string of five consecutive 1,000-plus rushing yards seasons, including a franchise record 1,883 in 2003.
Moving on to Cowboys
After the 2004 season, something had to give in Green Bay. New GM Ted Thompson had to try
to re-sign three All-Pros (Rivera, Wahle and safety Darren Sharper) under a tight salary cap.
Rivera said Thompson made the logical move by trying to keep Wahle, the younger lineman. Rivera got his big payday by inking a five-year, $20 million free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys after nine seasons in a Packers uniform.
“I hit the magic number — I was over 30, when a lineman’s performance can go the other way,” he said. “It was hard to leave Green Bay, where I had roots and everyone was like family.”
A week after signing with Dallas, Rivera
suffered a freak back injury while working out on a hotel treadmill.
“I was in Maryland to receive the (Packers’) Ed Block Courage Award,” Rivera said. “I thought I had pulled a hamstring, but it was a herniated disk.
“I went into that training camp not 100%, because I just wasn’t as strong as I was in the past after the surgery. I want to be in there — broken hands, torn MCLs, whatever — for my teammates. It’s a source of pride for me and sets the tone for your team.”
Rivera was an instant starter and played in 14 games in 2005 with Dallas, before suffering a neck injury against Washington in late December after landing on his head. He was carried off the field on a stretcher.
“That was real scary, not feeling your body for a few seconds,” he said.
Rivera returned to start 16 games in 2006, but reinjured his back in the Cowboys’ season-ending playoff loss at Seattle. He had surgery a week later, and his second back operation led to his retirement.
The punishment he dished out and received in 11 NFL seasons took their toll on the now 49-year-old Rivera, who just underwent a shoulder procedure last Friday. Dealing with the pain is something he now effectively manages on a daily basis.
From pain, depression to great joy
Fifteen years ago, he self-medicated with alcohol and pain pills, but with the help of his wife, Michelle, and family he rebounded from the depression and got back into high school coaching.
“I went through some dark moments after I was done playing,” Rivera said. “I was miserable, upset. It’s hard when you still have the passion and ability to play, but your body breaks down and you just can’t. Father Time caught up with me, but I wasn’t ready to stop competing at that level, in the game I loved.
“The younger Marco wanted to push through and heal on the go; the older Marco couldn’t do it. Very frustrating. Father Time is undefeated.”
Helping coach his three sons at June Shelton High School in Dallas since 2015 has been one of the great joys of Rivera’s life. And he looks forward to reuniting at Lambeau Field this fall to honor the Super Bowl XXXI team.
“Just a special team and great teammates,” Rivera said. “When we get together it’s just like old times.”