Report: New York Jets to interview Ron Rivera for head coaching vacancy

The New York Jets will reportedly interview Ron Rivera for their head coaching vacancy, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“The Jets are scheduled to interview Ron Rivera for their head coaching job this week, per sources,” Pelissero wrote on Twitter. “In 13 seasons with Carolina and Washington, Rivera made the playoffs five times, including an appearance in Super Bowl 50. The first of many HC interviews to come in NYJ’s search.”

This comes on the heels of Rex Ryan expressing interest in the Jets job as well, as he told ESPN New York.

Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders from 2011-23 as the head coach, going 102-103-2 overall. He had more success with the Panthers, winning three NFC South titles and making the playoffs four times.

Rivera coached Cam Newton to an MVP and the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015, losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

After Rivera was fired following a 5-7 record in 2019, he came back to coach Washington in 2020. Although the team went 7-9, the Commanders won the division but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card round.

Rivera and Washington did not return to the playoffs after that and he was fired following a 4-13 season in 2023.

A former linebacker for the Chicago Bears and Super Bowl champion in 1985, Rivera began his coaching career in 1997 in Chicago. He had numerous assistant jobs with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bears and then-San Diego Chargers before landing the head coaching gig with the Panthers in 2011.

Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan reportedly talking with Jets

It’s still early in the process, but with Rivera and Ryan reportedly set to talk with the Jets, it seems like New York is opting for veteran head coaches, at least for now.

Ryan hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016, his second and final season as the Buffalo Bills head coach. He previously coached the Jets from 2009-14, going 46-50 in six seasons and making two AFC Championship games.

Ryan is 61-66 overall as a head coach, going 15-16 with the Bills in two seasons, but hasn’t coached in nearly a decade. Since then, he’s worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN, being featured on Sunday NFL Countdown, Get Up, and more.

Known as an excellent defensive mind, Ryan won Super Bowl XXXV as the defensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens from 1999-2004 before becoming the team’s defensive coordinator.