San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Anthony Lynn became the sixth candidate to interview for the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator opening. Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera met with Lynn in the Bay Area, according to The Athletic’s Ben Standig.
Rivera is in the Bay Area for this weekend’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Pro-Am is the same weekend as the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where most teams and coaches scout the NFL prospects. Washington has a contingent in Mobile, Alabama, including general manager Martin Mayhew. However, Rivera skipped the event much like he did last year.
Rivera’s presence at Pebble Beach threw 106.7 the Fan’s Sports Junkies in a wrench. The show questioned why Rivera playing golf at Pebble Beach instead of searching for an offensive coordinator.
It turns out Rivera mixed some leisure into his business trip. According to Standig, Rivera drove from Pebble Beach to meet with Lynn in person. Certainly, that should ease the minds of critics, right?
Jen Leno, the wife of Commanders left tackle Charles Leno, reacted to the news of Rivera driving to Lynn.
Yes, the NFL has become a year-round business. But coaches and players are allowed to take a break from football. Rivera coached through a bout with cancer in 2020. He also coached through the passing of his mother this season. Playing golf doesn’t hinder him from doing his job.
Yet, questioning Rivera’s motives for golf does illustrate the state of the Commanders and its head coach.
The patience of fans is growing thinner with Rivera. He will enter his fourth season in Washington, and the team has yet to turn around into winners. Quarterback remains a huge question throughout Rivera’s tenure. Now the team needs an offensive coordinator after Rivera fired the unpopular Scott Turner.
Turner was hired in 2020 after Rivera was named the Commanders’ head coach. Rivera chose Turner, one of his many carryovers from the Carolina Panthers, over incumbent offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.
O’Connell was popular among fans. O’Connell landed with the Los Angeles Rams with another former Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay. Now, O’Connell is the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings with Washington’s last good quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The Commanders have interviewed five other candidates aside from Lynn. Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese, Charles London, Eric Studesville, and Thomas Brown have interviewed with the Commanders. Washington is also waiting to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy is preparing the Chiefs’ offense for Super Bowl LVII.
Ron Rivera is on the hot seat with fans. He could be coaching for his job, considering the Commanders may be sold this year to a new owner. Rivera has to hit with his offensive coordinator choice to help ensure him a fifth year as head coach.
