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Former NFL head coach Ron Rivera is heading to college football. He announced his intention to return to his alma mater with a social media post on Wednesday.
He didn’t specify what his role with the Cal Bears would be, just that he’d planned on coming home to help out his former program.
Coach Belichick has made going back to school, cool. Stay tuned I am coming home. @CalAthletics @UCBerkeley @Cal #GoBears🐻
— Ron Rivera (@RiverboatRonHC) February 5, 2025
Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers from 2011-2019. He later led the Washington Commanders from 2020-2023. All of his coaching experience comes at the professional level, where he also spent more than a decade as an assistant.
Now, he’s giving college football a try. Rivera said that there would be more to come on that move in the near future. Most believe he’ll take over in an analyst or GM-type role. Those general manager duties would include roster management, NIL navigation, and other tasks related to recruiting.
One Cal social media account, an area the Bears’ fanbase thrives, created a graphic alongside Ron Rivera’s quote on returning to the university. They purposely left an important word out, prompting a hilarious response from running back Jaydn Ott.
Pause.
— Jaydn Ott🇼🇸 (@THEJAYDNOTT) February 5, 2025
Ott is known to be a jokester. In December of 2023, he siked the fanbase out by making a fake video signaling his intention to enter the transfer portal. A few weeks later, he savagely dropped HIM as his pronoun to start the spring semester.
He’s backed that up on the field. As a sophomore, he rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 12 scores. Last year, he saw a dip in production but capped his season with an 84-yard performance in the Bears’ bowl game.
The running back will soon gear up for his senior season in Berkeley. He’ll have Ron Rivera on his side. Cal will kick off the 2025 college football season on August 30 against Oregon State.