The Washington Commanders have fired head coach Ron Rivera, and hired two prominent sports executives, one from outside football, to identify new leadership atop the team.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski, the club has hired former Minnesota Vikings head coach Rick Spielman and former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers to find its new head coach as well as a new head of football operations.
General manager Martin Mayhew and Executive VP of Football/Player Personnel Marty Hurney will remain with the team through the search process, but their future beyond that could be determined by the new hires.
"This is a crucial offseason for us, and we won't shy away from the work needed to get back to a place where we can deliver a winning culture top to bottom," owner Josh Harris told ESPN. "...I've known Bob a long time and watched him construct four championship teams and a highly successful organization in Golden State...He is innovative, thoughtful, well-connected across sports and understands what it takes to solidify and sustain championship infrastructure. I think he's going to be incredibly additive."
Rivera went 26-40-1 in four seasons leading the team. The club won the NFC East with a 7-9 record in 2020, but it's been a long time since Washington enjoyed sustained success.
This hire will be Harris's first chance to put his thumbprint on the team after paying a record $6.05 billion to buy the club in July.
Spielman was the Vikings' GM from 2012-21, and Myers was the Warriors' GM from 2012-23. He hired Steve Kerr as the club's head coach in 2014, a move that kicked off a run of four NBA championships in eight seasons.
"I have been fortunate to know Josh Harris for many years and his commitment to building championship-caliber teams is what drew me here," Myers said in a statement. "In my experience, championship infrastructure begins with a strong ownership group that prioritizes culture and invests in attracting the industry's most talented and innovative leaders...This is the type of opportunity that really inspires me, and I look forward to contributing to the next chapter of this storied franchise."
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