Should the Lions Consider Hiring Ron Rivera as Next Defensive Coordinator?

Now that former Panthers head man Ron Rivera has been fired, could he be a candidate to replace Paul Pasqualoni this offseason?

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera, who led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015, was fired on Tuesday after eight and half years as the Panthers' head coach. 

Carolina, which has fallen to 5-7 on the year following an embarrassing loss to the Washington Redskins Sunday, promoted secondary coach Perry Fewell to replace Rivera on an interim basis. 

Given the high coaching turnover rate in the NFL, there will likely be plenty of suitors and openings for Rivera to pursue this offseason. 

Rivera is still a good coach, but it was time for a change of scenery.

The Panthers have a new owner in David Tepper, and the team has become stagnant over the past few seasons.

How does this relate to the Lions, you may be wondering?

Well, as the Lions' defense continues to tailspin out of control, it's fair to say that, at the very least, Detroit defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni is firmly on the hot seat. 

Could general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia go out of their comfort zone -- much as they did with hiring offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell -- and add "Riverboat Ron" to the coaching staff?  

Of course, it's a long shot to actually happen, but it's been a question that has been floated around by many fans.

Before Rivera's stint in Carolina, he had spent the previous six of seven years as a defensive coordinator: three years with the San Diego Chargers (2008–2010) and another three with the Chicago Bears (2004–2006).

What's unique about his time in both of those places was that he ran a 4-3 defense in Chicago yet a 3-4 defense while with the Chargers. 

With Patricia's defense labeled as a "multiple" defense, Rivera would be a natural fit. 

And maybe a new perspective with experience could be the boost the Lions' defense needs.

As a defensive coordinator, Rivera had plenty of success. There was a reason he got a head coaching gig. 

Below are the NFL ranks for his teams when he was a coordinator: 

Year  Yards Allowed  Points Allowed

2004       21st                 13th

2005       1st                   2nd

2006       5th                  3rd

2008       25th                15th

2009       16th                11th

2010        1st                  10th

As you can see, when given the responsibility of only handling the defense, Rivera has a track record of turning things around. Even as a head coach, the defense was almost always formidable.

Year  Yards Allowed  Points Allowed

2011      28th                  27th

2012      10th                  18th

2013      2nd                   2nd

2014      10th                  21st

2015      6th                    6th

2016      21st                   26th

2017       7th                    22nd

2018      15th                   19th

It's not often you can find a defensive coordinator with a resume like Rivera's.

Ultimately, this whole point will be moot if Rivera gets another head coaching job. 

It's unlikely that Rivera won't be the head man of another NFL franchise in the near future. 

However, in the meantime, maybe the Lions could bring in Rivera to work alongside another defensive "guru" in Patricia. 

You know what they say ... two gurus are better than one.

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