Ron Rivera. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles next DC could have ties to legendary former coach

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 1/22/24

No team gave up more points in 2023 than Ron Rivera’s Washington Commanders. So why are the Eagles considering him for their open DC position? Maybe it has something to do with former head coach, Buddy Ryan.

As a second-round draft pick in 1984, Rivera played linebacker for Ryan, architect of the famed “46 defense” and defensive coordinator for the 1985 Super Bowl-champion Chicago Bears.

While Rivera wasn’t on the level with players like Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary, Ryan always kept his young linebacker in the loop and up to speed with his system.

"He was questioning me and teaching me all at the same time on why he was game planning certain ways for our opponents," Rivera said. "It was a great education to stand back there and learn from him. He really was a tremendous teacher."

Ryan left the Bears to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1986 where his aggressive nature on and off the field made him something of a cult hero.

Rivera also spent time as a coach with the Eagles, as linebackers coach from 1999-2003 before taking over as Bears defensive coordinator in 2004.

#RipBuddyRyan thx 4 being my first defensive influence. The #NFL has lost another defensive innovator. #46Defense
— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) June 28, 2016

After a middling performance in his first year with the team, Rivera’s defense allowed the second-fewest yards in 2005 and in 2006 helped the team reach Super Bowl XLI.

He joined the Chargers coaching staff in 2007 and served as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2008-10.

After running the league’s top-rated defense in 2010, Rivera was named head coach of the Panthers in 2011. Rivera produced five top-10 defenses in nine years with Carolina, including 2015 when the team lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

He had less success as head coach of the Commanders from 2020-23. Even with the NFL’s second-ranked defense in 2020 and the third-ranked defense in 2022, the team failed to win a single playoff game, just like his mentor.

In 1991, the Philadelphia Eagles fired Ryan after going 0-3 in the playoffs. Ultimately, Ryan proved to be a better coordinator than head coach and with an interview looming for Rivera, the team seems to feel the same way about Washington’s old coach.

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