Daniel Snyder Turns a New Leaf With Ron Rivera Hire

So far, the year 2020 has been nothing short of turbulent for the Washington football team formerly known as the Redskins. But through the chaos and uncertainty surrounding the future of the team, an opportunity for transformation is becoming more evident.

In early January, changes were already being made that showed promise for a long-awaited upswing. Team owner Daniel Snyder announced a commitment to change things for the better, saying “What the Redskins have needed is a culture change. Someone that can bring a winning culture to our organization. And it starts and ends with our head Coach.” The firing of previous coach Jay Gruden provided a crucial opportunity for Snyder to make a winning play. The decision to hire pro-football coach Ron Rivera was a well-measured move for the Washington team.

When it comes to NFL coaches, Rivera is one of the most reputable. Snyder explains how much deliberation went into this decision. “I did my research. Spent a lot of time talking to a lot of people.” Among the words frequently reported in all the feedback- integrity, honesty, knowledge, grit, determination.  “I look for a class act, and that’s how you describe Coach Rivera.”,  Snyder reiterated his confidence in the hire. “It’s all about winning. Ron Rivera knows how to win as a player, as a coach”.

Coach Rivera has already won “NFL Coach of the Year” twice. In a press conference statement on January 2nd, 2020, team owner Daniel Snyder emphasized this accolade, saying “For those of you that don’t understand- that’s very very hard to do. You should Google that because it is impressive. He was 15-1 which is extremely hard to do”.  The man is not wrong. The only other coaches with similar bragging rights were the 1985 “NFL Coach of the Year” Mike Ditka with the Chicago Bears, or the 2007 winner Bill Belichick, who drove the New England Patriots to a 16-0 season.

Because of the contrast between the Washington Football team’s past performance and the success rate of Rivera, the coach was not convinced easily. In fact, former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was heavily instrumental in getting him on board. Under Gibbs’ coaching in the 1980s, the Redskins won 3 Super Bowls. He was widely recognized as bringing redemption upon the franchise, creating a well-respected reputation. It was Joe that Rivera first reached out to regarding the position. Gibbs spent a great deal of time with Rivera, discussing the job and why he would be a great fit. In an NBC Sports article, Rivera said “Coach gave me so much insight, it was amazing… To be able to go into his home and spend time with him, that was cool…Probably one of the coolest things that happened was he started drawing plays up. We started talking about how he did it and how he looked at things.” Having such a credible mentor offer advice and insight must have been pretty convincing.

But, Rivera would be understandably hesitant to join the team following a string of unsuccessful years- much of which fans place blame on Dan Snyder. The well respected Joe Gibbs counteracted that doubt, defending Snyder. “Where I felt like I could help the most was telling [Rivera] what it was like working with Dan,” Gibbs said. “When I was there, Dan did every single thing he could do to help us win and was never, in any way, an interference. He was always trying to help in every single way he could.”

Joe enthusiastically facilitated the meeting, and Dan invited Rivera to his home in Charlotte to spend more time getting to know each other. Evidently, the two bonded over a unified goal for the team- to win. Months later, the Washington football team still faces controversy, amid an unexpected pandemic that has hijacked the typical NFL routine. However, Coach Rivera stays convicted and committed to the team he recently joined. “No regrets,” Rivera told the Charlotte Observer. “I look forward to the challenge of improving a 3-13 team. I want to build a sustainable winning culture, in every facet.”

This “winning culture” seems to be the driving factor for Washington’s fans and officials alike, who still remain excited to see what this brand-new venture will bring. With uncertainty around the way, this season will adapt to the impact of COVID-19, fans will hold hope for the redemption of their beloved team.