When Ron Rivera took over as the Washington Football Team’s head coach, he said that he was going to change the toxic culture that derailed Washington over the last few decades. Between the scandals that have plagued the franchise over the last 10 years, there had been less than a family in the locker room for quite some time. Rivera set out to strengthen these team values from day one. Less than one year in it seems that Rivera has already started to do so. Despite being diagnosed with cancer before the start of the season, Rivera has coached in every game and instilled energy and hope into the entire team. Thanks to Rivera’s leadership Washington is currently sitting in first place with their best opportunity to win the division for the first time since 2015.
Rivera has used the little things, of which management had overlooked in years past, to get Washington to the top of the East. Since Dan Synder took over the franchise, he has been drawn to signing the big stars and focusing on the glamour of the franchise. Instead, Rivera has placed confidence into every player on the roster. He has the players buying into the team goals and has taken Washington to heights they did not dream of this season especially after a disappointing 2019 season. Throughout the entire season, Rivera has inspired the team to fight through all of the ups and downs, especially with Covid, and now has the team with the most heart the organization has seen in quite some time.
Flashback to the start of the season as Rivera was diagnosed with cancer in August, less than a month before the start of the regular season. He struggled through some tough times, even having to get IV injections at halftime during some games. Through all of this he still worked to change the culture so that he could shape the team into a winning organization. A key moment of his leadership was on display in Week 1 when Washington fell behind 17-0 against the Eagles. In that game, Washington continued to fight and scored 27 unanswered points to defeat the Eagles 27-17. The team truly believed in Rivera and rallied behind him and through this they foreshadowed the success would come particularly in the second half of the season.
After the week 1 victory things fell into a slump, but looked to make adjustments heading into the final half. Despite a 2-7 start, Washington was still in the race for the division thanks to the poor play from the rest of the NFC East teams. In the second half, the values Rivera had imprinted in the locker room shined as the team began to believe in the possibility of winning culture. After a gritty performance in a win against the Bengals, the Washington Football Team went on an incredible four game win streak where the teams confidence was at the forefront of each of the victories. Under Rivera a touching return of Alex Smith and a rising defense, the Washington Football team has become the head of the table in the NFC East. One of most defining moments of their heart this season came when Terry McLaurin chased down Jaylon Smith after he intercepted a pass and ran down the sideline toward the end-zone. McLaurin, despite starting 10 yards behind, caught up to Smith and tackled him just short of the goal line. This was a game-changing play as the defense stopped the Cowboys from scoring a touchdown and tying the game. Washington went on to defeat the Cowboys, and by their next game, Washington had shocked the world by defying the odds and defeating the undefeated Steelers. Overall the spirit and drive Ron Rivera had willed this Washington team to keep fighting no matter the circumstances they have faced this year. Without Rivera who knows the position Washington would be in this season, as the new and improved culture would've most likely ceased to exist.
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