Ron Rivera Returns to Cal in Managerial Role

Ron Rivera, former head coach of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders, is returning to the University of California, his alma mater, to assume a general manager-like role for the football program. His responsibilities will primarily be administrative, focusing on oversight aspects such as budget, coaching staff, and the student-athlete experience. This move aligns with a growing trend in college football to adapt to NIL and transfer portal dynamics by hiring seasoned professionals in managerial roles. Rivera, a California Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and former All-American linebacker, seeks to revitalize Cal's football program alongside head coach Justin Wilcox. His appointment follows a similar trend set by other NFL veterans like Andrew Luck at Stanford and Bill Belichick at North Carolina. Rivera's transition to college football marks his first foray into the NCAA, despite an extensive NFL coaching career that included leading the Panthers to a Super Bowl in 2015.