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NFL coaching hire grades: Redskins, Cowboys earn high marks

By Mike Phillips

ASHBURN, VA- JANUARY 2: Ron Rivera is introduced as the Washington Redskins new had coach at a Redskins Park press conference in Ashburn, VA on January 2, 2020 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ASHBURN, VA- JANUARY 2: Ron Rivera is introduced as the Washington Redskins new had coach at a Redskins Park press conference in Ashburn, VA on January 2, 2020 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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Four of the NFL’s five head coaching vacancies have been filled, and two NFC East rivals managed to hit home runs with their hires.

The NFL hiring cycle is moving at an accelerated pace this year, with only the Cleveland Browns still looking for a new head coach at this point. With that in mind, let’s grade the hires that have been made so far.

Washington Redskins: A

The Redskins have been a dysfunctional franchise for a long time, but they took a major step towards respectability by hiring Ron Rivera as their next head coach. Rivera was fired in the middle of this year with Carolina, but he hasn’t had the benefit of a healthy Cam Newton for the past few years, with Newton missing most of this season.

Over his tenure with the Panthers, Rivera went 76-63-1, making four playoff appearances. That run included three straight NFC South Division titles from 2013-2015, with the final year of that stretch seeing the Panthers go 15-1 and get all the way to Super Bowl 50.

Rivera is also a two time NFL Coach of the Year, so the Redskins brought in a guy who knows how to win and develop a young quarterback, which they have in Dwayne Haskins. This is an excellent job from the Redskins, who now have to find a GM to pair with Rivera after finally firing Bruce Allen this winter.

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