Recently sacked Rivera to lead Redskins
Ron Rivera will trust in youth to bring success to the Washington Redskins after he was officially announced as head coach of the NFL side on Wednesday.
“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,” the former Carolina Panthers coach said in a statement.
Rivera, who will hold his first news conference on Thursday, already has made one significant move with the Redskins, who have won three Super Bowls but finished the 2019 season with a 3-13 win-loss record and last made the NFL playoffs in 2015.
Former Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has been hired as the Redskins’ defensive co-ordinator and will call plays, the NFL Network reported.
Rivera, 57, spent 8½ years with the Panthers before being fired on Dec. 3. He had a 76-63-1 record.
“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.
The Cleveland Browns will interview former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Mccarthy for their head-coaching vacancy on Thursday, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mccarthy, 56, has interviewed for the open coaching job with Carolina and reportedly will meet with the New York Giants on Saturday.
The Browns parted ways with GM John Dorsey on Tuesday, but kept assistant GM Eliot Wolf, who worked with Mccarthy in Green Bay for more than a decade.
With both Mccarthy and Wolf on staff, the Packers went to the playoffs nine times and won Super Bowl XLV following the 2010 season.
Cleveland is reportedly also considering Patriots offensive co-ordinator Josh Mcdaniels, Vikings offensive co-ordinator Kevin Stefanski, Ravens offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman, Bills offensive co-ordinator Brian Daboll, Chiefs offensive co-ordinator Eric Bieniemy and 49ers defensive co-ordinator Robert Saleh.
Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson said tight end Zach Ertz has not been cleared for contact but might get some reps during Wednesday’s walk-through practice. Ertz missed last Sunday’s NFC East-clinching victory against the New York Giants after suffering a broken rib and lacerated kidney in the Week 16 win against the Dallas Cowboys.
The 29-year-old Ertz led the Eagles in receptions (88), receiving yards (916) and touchdown catches (six) this season and was named to his third straight Pro Bowl.
If Ertz can’t play in Sunday’s wild-card game against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia will rely on second-year tight end Dallas Goedert.
Ohio State all-american cornerback Jeff Okudah announced Wednesday he will enter the 2020 NFL draft.
He is expected to be the first cornerback off the board in the April 23-25 draft and several mock drafts peg him to be selected No. 3 overall by the Detroit Lions.