Carolina Panthers Set to Hire Ron Rivera as Head Coach

Ron Rivera appears to be the Carolina Panthers' choice as their next head coach.

The San Diego Chargers' defensive coordinator interviewed with Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and other team officials Monday. It was Rivera's ninth interview for a head coaching job and the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that it would likely be his last.

The Panthers have also interviewed the New York Giants' Perry Fewell, Cleveland's Rob Ryan and San Francisco's Greg Manusky.

Frank Bauer, Rivera's agent, nor the Panthers have confirmed anything yet.

Former Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley, who played for Rivera during the Chicago Bears' 2006 Super Bowl season told The Charlotte Observer Rivera was a solid choice.

"He has good leadership qualities," Wesley said. "He's a very calm guy. He's very poised in a lot of situations. He has the head coach mentality. He knows how to monitor a game and knows how to control a lot of things."

Wesley said Rivera, a former Chicago Bears linebaker, had a playing background that gave him credibility in the locker room.

"A lot of players love him. He's a players' coach," Wesley said. "He understands the game because he played the game himself."

Rivera is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent and would become the first Latino NFL head coach since Tom Flores, who last coached Seattle during 1994.

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Ron Rivera orchestrated the NFL's top-ranked defense this season in San Diego and would be the fourth defensive coordinator hired to coach the Carolina Panthers.