If Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera is unable to lead the organization this year due to his recent cancer diagnosis, he plans to replace defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.
Rivera revealed he was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer in his lymph nodes on Thursday after discovering a lump in his neck in July. He told ESPN that the cancer was “very treated and cured”, but that he was “stunned” and “angry” because he felt like he was the healthiest person he had ever been.
Plan B: Jack Del Rio
Rivera, 58, said he planned to continue working during his cancer battle – and that his doctors had encouraged him to do so himself.
However, he is more than aware that there will be times when he simply cannot coach.
“Plan B will be carried out on those days where I will wrestle,” Rivera told the Washington Times on Saturday. ‘Believe me, I’m not getting pink here. I’m honest. I know I will wrestle. Those days I do, I will have to ask the coaches to step up and the players will have to step up and take ownership. “
Del Rio has a lot of experience with head coaching, and is an obvious choice to step in as an interim coach if Rivera can not when he undergoes treatment.
The 57-year-old led the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-2011, then spent three seasons with the Oakland Raiders from 2015-17. He was previously hired as an interim coach when he was the defense coordinator with the Denver Broncos – taking over for John Fox in 2013 after undergoing heart surgery.
While he will be on the sidelines as much as possible this fall, Rivera is feeling good with a solid back-up plan in Del Rio.
“I have a great saying that I really appreciate. It’s called ‘Do not sign me a card unless you’ve been there,’ and Jack’s been there, ‘Rivera told the Times. “He has helped, he really has … Now with this circumstance and situation we have, his value to us is even more so.”
If Washington coach Ron Rivera can never lead the team during his battle with cancer, defense coordinator Jack Del Rio will step in and take his place. (Don Feria / Getty Images)
