Why Did Washington Commanders' Ron Rivera Make Coaching Changes Now?

Coach Ron Rivera has now assumed defensive playcalling duties for the Washington Commanders, and his first test will be a difficult one.

On one hand, you have to give Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera some credit, he didn't wait for a soft upcoming game on the schedule to fire former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and assume defensive playcalling duties. 

Granted, Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer were fired after a 45-10 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, so it's not as though they got a particularly favorable matchup to try to save their jobs. Dallas is 5-0 at home, with quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb looking the part of a Super Bowl-caliber offense when they play on the turf at AT&T Stadium. 

"Today I relieved Jack Del Rio and Brent Vieselmeyer of their duties. I appreciate all that they contributed to the organization over the past four seasons and wish them all the best moving forward," Rivera said in a fairly boilerplate statement. 

Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio (left) was fire by coach Ron Rivera (right).  :: Geoff Burke/USA Today

But Rivera now takes over defensive playcalling duties with nine days to prepare for a matchup with coach Mike McDaniel's Miami Dolphins, one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are averaging a league-leading 434 yards per game offensively this season. Wideout Tyreek Hill is on pace to set a new single-season record for receiving yards. 

The Commanders, in all likelihood, will get trounced by the Dolphins. Rivera could have waited until after the Miami game -- with Washington on a bye in Week 14 -- to dismiss his defensive coordinator. That he didn't and is setting himself up to be criticized if (when?) Washington gets crushed in Week 13 by the Dolphins is somewhat commendable. 

Those inclined to put on the tinfoil hat, though, might wonder if Rivera believes that by firing two prominent defensive coaches, he essentially makes it impossible for owner Josh Harris to dismiss him during the season. In such a scenario, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy would presumably replace Rivera on an interim basis. That seems almost impossible now, because a large chunk of the defensive staff -- including Rivera, with his defensive background -- would be gone. 

Commanders QB Howell Stacks Bad Games in Loss vs. Cowboys

Whatever Rivera's motivations for firing Del Rio and Vieselmeyer, it does feel like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Washington traded their two top pass rushers, Chase Young and Montez Sweat, before the trade deadline. First-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has struggled in his rookie season. And while quarterback Sam Howell has definitely shown promise, he's been sacked a league-leading 55 times and intercepted 13 times, also the most in the sport. 

At 4-8, the Commanders will be left to play out their five remaining games this season. Perhaps there will be some incremental improvements defensively under Rivera, but almost certainly not enough to change an outcome that feels fait acompli. Someone new will be calling the defensive plays for the Commanders in Week 13, and someone new will be coaching the team altogether in 2024.