A Carolina Panthers legend could come back to the NFL.
A former Carolina Panthers coach could be back in the NFL next season.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals for their head coaching vacancy.
Rivera coached the Panthers from 2011 to 2019. He was fired after Week 13 of the 2019 season.
Rivera went 76-63-1 in the regular season and 3-4 in the playoffs with the Panthers. He guided Carolina to the Super Bowl during the 2015 season. The Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
The Cardinals need a new head coach after parting ways with Jonathan Gannon. Rivera hasn't coached in the NFL since 2023. He was the head coach of the Washington Commanders from 2020 to 2023.
Rivera is a two-time Coach of the Year. It will be fascinating to see if he returns to the NFL to coach the Cardinals, who went 3-14 this season.
With the Panthers and Commanders, Rivera went 102-103-2 in the regular season and 3-5 in the playoffs. He's 64 years old.
Carolina made the playoffs this season for the first time since the 2017 campaign. Dave Canales' group lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round.
QB Bryce Young had 3,011 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns in the regular season. Carolina has already picked up the fifth-year option on Young.
The Panthers already have a star playmaker for Young in WR Tetairoa McMillan, who finished his rookie season with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.
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