'My Mother Would've Been Proud': Commanders Coach Ron Rivera Delivers Emotional Speech After Eagles Win

Ron Rivera has dealt with a lot as the Washington Commanders head coach. And Monday night may have been his most emotional moment.

Jeremy Brener | Nov 15, 2022

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera delivered probably the shortest postgame speech of the season after their big 32-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football ... but it also was possibly the most powerful one he'll give all season.

"My mother would've been proud," Rivera said as he was holding back tears.

Rivera's mom Dolores passed away on Oct. 31 at the age of 82, and the Commanders won their first game after her passing on Monday.

Rivera has been through the wringer during his tenure as Washington's head coach. After battling and undergoing cancer treatments in 2020 while navigating the challenges of COVID-19, coupled with all of his quarterback controversies and legal issues surrounding the team, it hasn't been easy for Rivera.

Yet, Monday night served as a metaphor of perseverance for Rivera and the Commanders this season. After starting the year 1-4, the team has bounced back winning four of its last five to crawl back into the playoff picture.

However, Monday's win doesn't mean Rivera and the Commanders have reached the mountaintop. The team still sits outside the playoff picture and faces four of its last seven games against opponents currently expected to reach the postseason.

But that stretch doesn't begin this week. Instead, the Commanders face the league-worst Houston Texans on the road. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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Published Nov 15, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.