Former NFL head coach Ron Rivera is preparing to return to his roots by taking a position at his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley.
On social media, Rivera shared that he plans to follow in the footsteps of legendary coach Bill Belichick, signaling his intent to join the California coaching staff in some unspecified capacity.
“Coach Belichick has made going back to school, cool,” Rivera commented, adding, “Stay tuned I am coming home.”
No further details have been disclosed regarding Rivera’s specific role at Cal, where head coach Justin Wilcox is entering his ninth season with a 42-50 overall coaching record.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons expressed enthusiasm about Rivera’s potential return, stating, “Our alum, Ron Rivera is an icon in football for good reason. I’m thrilled to be in discussion with him about the details of joining the Cal team to support and advance our football program. We will release more information as soon as possible.”
In a move to bolster their football program, Cal’s rival, Stanford University, recently appointed former quarterback Andrew Luck as their general manager.
Rivera, who starred as an All-American linebacker at Cal in 1983, went on to be selected by the Chicago Bears as a second-round draft pick in 1984.
He achieved Super Bowl victory with the Bears during his second NFL season and enjoyed a nine-year playing career in total.
Starting his coaching journey in 1997, Rivera accumulated experience over the years, serving as the head coach for the Carolina Panthers for nine seasons and the Washington Football Team for four seasons, concluding with a regular-season record of 102 wins, 103 losses, and 2 ties.
Throughout his career, he was honored with the AP NFL Coach of the Year awards in 2013 and 2015 during his tenure with the Panthers.
Rivera’s coaching highlights include leading teams to the playoffs on five occasions, with his most successful season occurring in 2015 when the Panthers achieved a remarkable 15-1 regular-season record, only to fall short in the Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos.
