Commanders Owner Josh Harris Bullish on Team Going Forward: 'Future is Bright!'
We all knew it was coming, and it did - the Washington Commanders parted ways with head coach Ron Rivera on "Black Monday" as the team looks to make a host of changes this offseason.
With Rivera tasked with managing a troubled franchise for the last few years, his job was herculean, to say the least as for years, Washington was a laughingstock of the NFL.
But that might not be the case much longer as new owner Josh Harris has made the first of many moves in an attempt to bring success to the nation's capital.
And as far as a parting message for Rivera, who kept the ship afloat for years?
"We appreciate Ron's efforts and everything he did for the franchise," Harris said. "I mean, obviously he came here during a tumultuous time period, the ownership change, and he really added leadership. But clearly, we weren't good enough this year. We didn't get it done on the field. And so, we've decided to go into a new direction.”
That new direction will be headlined by several new hires, which includes a head coach and possibly a new general manager.
Mandatory Credit: Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
And while the Commanders' season, which yielded just four wins was poor as the consistency that the team craved on the field was missing.
Washington started the season in positive fashion, winning its first two games of the year, but that was as good as it got, yet the fans still showed up for their team during the dark days.
And for that, Harris has a message.
“Thank you," he said. "You guys [the fans] showed up in droves, you believed in us. We sold out every game, even with a four-win season. Now granted, there were a few visiting fans there, but that's on us, we're not in the playoffs. So, thank you for showing up. The future is bright, we have a lot of cap space, we have a great ownership group, we're very committed to winning for this city, and look forward to showing you, in addition to telling you, over the next series of years.”
It will be an offseason of change for the Commanders as the new ownership group looks to make the right moves that will put the franchise in a good space for years to come.
But to do that, people must be moved on, with Rivera being the first domino to fall.
