NFL Hot Seat: 5 coaches that must win Week 1
By Josh Hill
Ron Rivera
Head Coach, Carolina Panthers
When the Carolina Panthers went 15-1, reaching the Super Bowl in 2015, everyone pressed pause on the doubting of Ron Rivera’s ability. Fast forward to this season and the heat is on to such a degree that Riverboat could go up in flames.
It would be stunning to see Rivera dismissed during the season, but he runs the risk of wearing out the good will that recent success has provided him. Doubt is where Rivera seems to operate best, though. When the team started 1-3 during his third season as head coach, he adjusted and led the team to an 11-1 finish to that season. The following year the team limped into the postseason with a sub-.500 record only to win its Wild Card matchup and advance back to the Divisional Round. The year after that, a near-perfect record and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Carolina has reached the postseason in three of Rivera’s six seasons there. How the seventh season starts, and where it goes, could be telling of what his future is. Cam Newton is a franchise superstar, a quarterback that would draw in an attractive head coaching replacement. There’s already a new sheriff in the GM’s suite, which means Riverboat better come up with all his aces this year.