According to reports cited by Dianna Russini of THE ATHLETIC, Commanders Coach Ron Rivera and “some front
office members will be fired” at the end of the season. Since taking over the team, new owner Josh Harris “had the
vision to keep Rivera in place through the end of the season, then move on” (THE ATHLETIC, 12/17). Jerry Brewer
of D.C. commented that “for decades, contemptible ownership obstructed any chance to enjoy football,” and now
that the “tumor has been excised, unenjoyable football loiters alone as the problem.” Brewer:
“Rivera, the coach and top personnel executive, is more babysitter than architect at this point.” The remainder of the
season was “supposed to be a dignified way to exit” and it was also “supposed to be viewed as the new ownership
group showing Rivera respect for helping to hold the organization together by allowing him to finish out a year of
wild but promising change.” However, like everything else, the time of Rivera’s departure “seems inconsequential
now.” Brewer wrote that Harris “wants to remain the anti-Daniel Snyder.”
He aspires to “be methodical and set a proper organizational tone with how he treats people in a cutthroat sports
business” and that “flashes success and failure on a scoreboard.” And he “doesn’t want to be the rash man in charge”
(Washington Post, December 17).
