Arizona Cardinals Showing Signs Of Desperation With Latest Head Coach Interview

The latest twist in the offseason drama comes courtesy of the Arizona Cardinals, who are reportedly looking at a veteran leader to steady their ship. According to recent reports, former Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has interviewed for the Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy.

Arizona Cardinals Doing What Now?

For fans in the desert, this news might come as a bit of a curveball. After moving on from Jonathan Gannon following a rough 3-14 season, many expected Arizona to swing for a young, offensive-minded guru. Instead, they are doing their due diligence on “Riverboat Ron,” a man with a resume as long as his reputation is respected.

A Resume of Highs and Lows

To understand why Rivera is in the room, you have to look past the recency bias of his time in Washington. Yes, his tenure with the Commanders was rocky. He finished with a 26-40-1 record over four seasons, dealing with quarterback instability, ownership changes, and a roster in constant flux. It wasn’t pretty, and it ended the way most NFL coaching gigs do—with a “Black Monday” dismissal.

But before the struggles in D.C., Rivera was one of the premier coaches in the league. During his nine-year run with the Carolina Panthers, he was a two-time NFL Coach of the Year (2013, 2015). He built a defensive juggernaut and led the team to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl 50 appearance.

Rivera brings over a decade of head coaching experience (102-103-2 career record) and a lifetime of football knowledge, dating back to his playing days as a linebacker on the legendary ’85 Chicago Bears. The Cardinals aren’t interviewing a coordinator hoping he can lead men; they are interviewing a man who has led locker rooms through just about everything the NFL can throw at you.

Why the Cardinals Are Interested

So, why Rivera? Why now?

The Arizona head coach search seems to have hit a point of “desperation,” according to some pundits, but there is logic here. The Cardinals are coming off a disastrous 3-14 campaign. When a team bottoms out like that, the locker room culture is often the first casualty. Young players lose confidence, veterans check out, and losing becomes a habit.

If there is one thing Ron Rivera is known for, it is culture building. He is widely respected by players and peers alike for his integrity, steadiness, and ability to command a room. Arizona might be looking at their roster and deciding that before they can worry about schematic wizardry, they need an adult in the room to set a standard of professionalism.

Furthermore, Rivera has spent the last year back at his alma mater, Cal, serving as a general manager. This time away from the sideline may have given him a fresh perspective on team building and talent evaluation, adding another layer of value to his candidacy.

What Rivera Would Bring to the Arizona Cardinals

If the Cardinals pull the trigger on this hire, they are getting a defensive-minded coach who prioritizes toughness and discipline.

• Defensive Identity: The Cardinals’ defense was porous last season. Rivera built top-tier defenses in San Diego (as a coordinator) and Carolina. He knows how to develop linebackers and create pressure schemes.
• Stability: Arizona has been a rollercoaster franchise. Rivera is the anti-rollercoaster. He is steady, calm, and rarely gets rattled by the media or external noise.
• Experience: Unlike a first-time head coach who has to learn on the fly, Rivera knows how to manage a game clock (mostly), handle a roster, and deal with the front office.

However, the concerns are valid. His offensive philosophy has often been criticized as outdated, and his inability to find a franchise quarterback in Washington ultimately doomed him. If he comes to Arizona, his choice of offensive coordinator would be arguably more important than his own hiring.

The Verdict on the NFL Coaching Carousel

For Rivera, this is a chance at redemption—an opportunity to prove that the Washington years were a product of a dysfunctional environment rather than a decline in his coaching ability. For the Cardinals, it is a signal that they might be pivoting away from risky hires and toward proven leadership.

Whether Rivera gets the job or not remains to be seen. But the fact that he is in the conversation shows that his reputation as a leader of men is still intact. As the Cardinals try to claw their way back to relevancy, maybe a little “Riverboat Ron” magic is exactly what the doctor ordered.