Washington Commanders Overhaul Franchise's Football Leadership

Ron Rivera Dismissed as Head Coach

In a sweeping overhaul of the franchise's football leadership that started with the dismissal of coach Ron Rivera on Monday morning, Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris has hired two prominent executives -- former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and former Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman -- to assist his ownership group with searches for a new head of football operations and head coach, team officials told ESPN.

Rivera, who joined the Commanders in 2020, had final say in all football decisions and hired the team's front office. But after capturing the NFC East in Rivera's first season with a 7-9 record, the Commanders were never able to produce a winning record.

"I want every Washington fan to know how much I appreciate your unwavering support," Rivera said in a statement. "Through all the name changes, roster moves, non-football headlines and seasons that did not meet your expectations, you still stood by this team. We did win an NFC East title in 2020, but we fell short since then and for that, I am truly disappointed."

The team finished this season at 4-13 and last in the NFC East, and it went 26-40-1 in his four seasons at the helm.

Bob Myers and Rick Spielman Join Ownership Group

Myers, the architect of four championships with the Warriors and a current ESPN NBA analyst, and Spielman, a 30-year NFL front office executive, will work with Harris and limited partners Mitch Rales, Magic Johnson, and David Blitzer as part of an advisory committee designed to reshape the Commanders' front office and coaching staff, team officials told ESPN.

In a search that will commence immediately, Myers will take a lead role in identifying and coordinating interviews with candidates for the top football operations and head-coaching jobs, with Spielman set to work closely with him, officials said.

The allure of the Commanders' job openings will be buoyed by having the No. 2 pick in a quarterback-rich 2024 draft and projected salary cap space that is among the most in the NFL this offseason.

Rapid but Thoughtful Approach to Installing New Leadership

On the timeline to install new leadership, Harris told reporters on Monday that the process would be rapid with the team already putting out multiple requests for interviews. But he emphasized that it would be a thoughtful approach.

"You have to make long-term decisions and do things one person at a time, one athlete at a time," said Harris. "So sometimes they take longer. So I think what my view is that we want it to be as quick as we can, but the ultimate goal is to be an elite team."

Harris will be closely involved in the search processes, but his long-standing relationship with Myers -- a two-time NBA executive of the year -- evolved in recent months and convinced the owner that Myers' championship résumé and industry relationships could play a significant role in building Washington's new leadership structure.