Coach

Ron Rivera took over as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator at the midpoint of the 2008 season. Under Rivera, San Diego’s pass defense steadied itself and played its best during the team’s four-game winning streak to close out the regular season. In those four games, the Chargers intercepted eight passes, while only allowing 213.0 passing yards per game and four total touchdown passes. These numbers were in steady contrast to the first 12 games of the season when the Bolts were just 4-8, had only seven interceptions and allowed 269.8 ypg through the air and 21 TD passes.

A former Super Bowl Champion linebacker with the Chicago Bears in 1985, this is Rivera’s second stint as a defensive coordinator. From 2004-06, he held the same position with the Bears, and in his last season Chicago led the NFL in takeaways and won the NFC title en route to Super Bowl XLI in Miami. In 2005 and ’06, Rivera’s defenses ranked second and fifth in the NFL in total defense, respectively. Several Bears, including Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Mike Brown, Nathan Vasher and Tommie Harris all went to Pro Bowls while playing in Rivera’s defense.

Rivera was born in Fort Ord, California. His father was an officer in the United States Army and the family lived in Germany, Panama, Washington and Maryland before settling in Marina, California. He attended Seaside HS in Marina where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior, he was honored with the Golden Helmet Award as the top football player in the Monterey Bay League.

From high school, Rivera had an All-America career at the University of California. He finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in sacks (22) and tackles (336), while also setting a school record for single-season tackles for loss (26.5 in 1983). Rivera was drafted by Chicago in the second round of the 1984 draft and played 149 games with the Bears.

Following his retirement, Rivera spent four years (1993-96) as a television analyst covering the Bears and college football for WGN-TV and SportsChannel Chicago. In 1997 he went back to the Bears to work as the team’s first defensive quality control coach.

Rivera and his wife, Stephanie, have two children, Christopher and Courtney.