BERKELEY — On the same day Cal players auditioned before NFL scouts at Memorial Stadium’s annual pro day, an all-time great alumnus returned from the NFL: Ron Rivera officially was announced Thursday as their football team’s general manager.
“This is an opportunity to come home and give back,” Rivera said on a video conference with reporters. “I’ll be involved in every aspect of football.
“I’ll work with Justin,” Rivera said of Cal’s ninth-year coach. “This is different, and it’s an opportunity for him to grow. I will work with alumni. I will work with donors. The chancellor has made an investment to bring somebody in and work with the donors to transcend athletics.”
Rivera, 63, revealed a month ago that he would be “going back to school,” after interviewing for head coach openings with the New York Jets, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Chicago Bears.
The general manager role is springing up in college programs nationwide, and to oversee personnel and help in this evolving era of players profiting from their name, image and likeness. Cal confimed Rivera’s role will focus on revenue generation and fundraising. He will report to chancellor Rich Lyons; Wilcox continues to report to director of athletics Jim Knowlton.
“I can’t think of a better person to play this role at Cal right now,” Lyons said. “… It’s exactly the right time to be acting on the GM position.
Added Knowlton: “We have been talking about the position for a while. As we watch the professionalism of college sports, it could be huge. We looked at Ron as this wonderful university resource. Now it’s a more refined position.”
Rivera will draw a $700,000 salary on a contract runs through the 2027 season, with the job funded by private philanthropy, Cal stated.
Rivera grew up in Marina and Seaside, and he left Cal as a 1984 second-round pick by the Chicago Bears. After a nine-year career that included the 1985 Bears’ landmark Super Bowl championship, the ex-linebacker embarked on a coaching tenure in which he led the Carolina Panthers from 2011-19 and then Washington’s franchise from 2020-23. He is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, and he led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, where they were defeated by the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ron Rivera to this role,” Wilcox said in a statement. “Ron has a passion for Cal football and loves this University. To have him help guide our program forward during these fast-changing times will be critical to our success.”
Rivera, inducted in 1994 to Cal’s Athletics Hall of Fame, has been a long-time supporter of his alma mater, which is where he met his wife, Stephanie, who played basketball at Cal and is a UC Berkeley Foundation Trustee and California Legends Collective board member.
Andrew Luck is four months into his GM job at rival Stanford, and he said Wednesday he’s already been in touch with Rivera. “Yeah, Ron and I have had some phone calls. I have a lot of respect for Ron,” Luck said, before wryly adding, “I have nothing good to say about Cal, nor will I ever, besides my cousin Claudia lives in Berkeley and I love her, and the food scene is OK.”
Rivera did not attend Thursday morning’s pro day workouts, but Cal showed some pretty OK players who could get drafted, led by linebacker Teddye Buchanan, safety Craig Woodson, and cornerbacks Nohl Williams and Marcus Harris. All four participated in last month’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
“I just wanted to show I’m a fluid mover, show my ball skills and show I’m an overall great athlete, and I feel I could do that,” Buchanan said. “I’ve been meeting with several teams over Zoom. It’s an amazing opportunity to talk to NFL teams. I’m super grateful for that and excited for what’s ahead.”
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Added Woodson: “They kind of ding me for my speed but I have speed and I showed it at the combine” with a 4.45-second 40-yard dash.
