Three head coaching jobs remain vacant, and they have been unfilled since Black Monday. As the Ravens, Dolphins, Steelers and Bills made hires after post-Black Monday firings, the Browns, Cardinals and Raiders’ searches drag on. An unexpected name has emerged amid Arizona’s process.
Ron Rivera completed an interview for the Cardinals’ HC position, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. The former Panthers and Commanders HC is currently serving as Cal’s GM. Rivera, 64, took the Cal position in 2025; he has not coached since the 2023 season. This hiring cycle has seen two coaches over 60 hired, with John Harbaugh and Mike McCarthy landing jobs.
This is not Rivera’s first interview since being ousted in Washington. The Bears, Jets and Raiders met with him about their openings in 2025. Rivera has 13 years’ experience as an NFL head coach. The former Coach of the Year has a Super Bowl appearance on his resume, though the back half of his Panthers tenure and most of his Commanders years did not go especially well.
Rivera is 102-103-2 as an NFL HC. He guided the Panthers to four playoff berths in a five-year span, backing Cam Newton with a few stout defenses during that span. The Panthers stormed to Super Bowl 50 after a 15-1 season, but after losing to the underdog Broncos, the team did not approach those heights again. After making one playoff appearance from 2016-18, Rivera received his walking papers — by second-year owner David Tepper — during the 2019 season.
Receiving personnel control to help a Washington franchise find some stability late in Dan Snyder‘s tenure, Rivera did lead the then-Washington Football Team to the 2020 playoffs — albeit at 7-9. The team could not find a quarterback during Rivera’s tenure, missing on Carson Wentz and Sam Howell. Another new owner, Josh Harris, booted Rivera after the 2023 season. That ’23 campaign ended badly enough — with eight straight losses following the trades of Montez Sweat and Chase Young — it helped the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime land Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in 2024.
The Cardinals have already seen Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing land on their feet. The three-year coworkers will be coaching against each other in the NFC North, with Gannon now the Packers’ DC and Petzing the Lions’ OC. Arizona’s search passed the three-week mark Monday, and a few names are out of the process. Joe Brady, Anthony Campanile, Jeff Hafley, John Harbaugh, Jesse Minter and Robert Saleh landed elsewhere or, in Campanile’s case, bowed out of the search. Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is how the search stands as of Monday evening:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): To conduct in-person interview
- Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Patriots): Interview requested
- Matt Burke, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Conducted second interview 1/22; staying with Jaguars
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/10, considered “strong candidate”
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): To conduct second interview 1/26-7; leading candidate?
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/13
- Raheem Morris, former head coach (Falcons): Interviewed; leading candidate?
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/9
- Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/27
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/16
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To conduct second interview 1/26
Damn they are Desperate with a capital D. Change their name to the Arizona Desperates.
Desperados?
What are you doing?
We’ve been asking the Bidwill Family that question for 70 years now
Yikes. I knew it was a rough situation, but that’s bleak. No disrespect to Rivera as a man, but as an NFL head coach, he should not be getting calls.
Ron’s time has passed. Let these young bucks get in the game and establish themselves.
I thought the Eagles were down bad looking for an OC. I feel slightly better now
Rivera is what his record says. He’s a decent HFC who can win with Armstrong roster and a good staff. His teams won’t outperform their ability.
It worked (mostly) when Jerry Richardson was in charge of the Panthers and stopped when Tepper,took over. (Richardson got what he deserved.)
I don’t think the Bidwells are as competent as either Panthers owner.
Armstrong roster or a strong roster? You make the call!
A team where all the last names are Armstrong could be sweet.