When the Commanders fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Friday morning, the first thought was that head coach Ron Rivera could be one more game away from being fired, too. That might not be the case.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the current sense within the organization is that new ownership believes Rivera has done enough to deserve a chance to finish the season and receive a full evaluation.
In situations like this, however, everything is subject to change. An embarrassing loss to the Dolphins at home next Sunday might accelerate the evaluation process — especially with a bye the following week.
It feels as if major changes are coming for the Commanders in 2024. Whether the blatantly obvious tweet from Magic Johnson announcing the move comes between now and the end of the regular season or just after it ends feels like a technicality at this point.
That said, Rivera has handled a difficult situation in D.C. with dignity and grace. He was instrumental in persuading former owner Daniel Snyder that the time had come to dump an outdated name that was a textbook slur, and he provided stability at a time of massive dysfunction, due directly to Snyder.
