The Redskins got their man, before anyone else could lure him away.
Ron Rivera has secured a five-year deal to become the Redskins next head coach, NFL Network reported Tuesday. The first hiring of the 2019-2020 coaching cycle will reportedly be announced Wednesday, just as other teams kick their interview processes into gear.
The Panthers fired Rivera on Dec. 3 after he went 76-63-1 across nine seasons, which included a trip to the Super Bowl. He should bring stability and instant credibility to the Redskins, who fired Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start to the season and finished 3-13.
The Redskins have not made the playoffs since 2015 and have not won a playoff game since 2005. They own the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and hope they have their quarterback of the future in 2019 first-rounder Dwayne Haskins.
Rivera was one of the top coaching candidates on the market, but the Redskins made sure he never interviewed anywhere else. The 57-year-old reportedly flew to Washington on “Black Monday,” the same day the Redskins fired team President Bruce Allen.