Former NFL coach Ron Rivera in shock career move READ MORE: Stanford football coach accused of bullying female colleague By LEOCCIANO CALLAO Published: 22:36 GMT, 20 March 2025 | Updated: 22:41 GMT, 20 March 2025 Former NFL player and coach Ron Rivera is taking on a new role in the sport as the general manager of the California Golden Bears program. Chancellor Rich Lyons announced on Thursday, March 20, that the former All-American linebacker at Cal will be returning to Berkeley for the newly created position. Rivera's new role will be fully funded by a private philanthropy and he will work to generate revenue and fundraising opportunities for the program while sharing his leadership and expertise on and off the field. Rivera will report to Lyons while head coach Justin Wilcox continues to report to Jim Knowlton, Cal's athletic director who also reports to Lyons. 'I am fired up to be coming home,' Rivera said in a press release. 'My love and passion for Cal has never changed, and I couldn't be more excited about the future of our football program. 'I look forward to working with Chancellor Lyons as we look to Jim Knowlton, Justin Wilcox, and all of our staff and players to compete for championships as we move forward in this new and rapidly changing era of college football.' Former NFL player and coach Ron Rivera was hired as the GM of the Cal football program Excited to Welcome Ron Rivera as the General Manager of the California Football Program! 👏🐻#GoBears pic.twitter.com/i1xscNM6kS — Cal Football (@CalFootball) March 20, 2025 BREAKING NEWS Another Georgia football player arrested on reckless driving charges 'The football program is an indispensable part of our university and our community,' Lyons said. 'And so we are taking the steps necessary so that the team can excel in the changed landscape of intercollegiate athletics. 'The combination of Ron's incredible football acumen and his powerful dedication to his alma mater makes him a perfect fit for this new role,' he added. 'It is an unprecedented opportunity to achieve the excellence I know our program is capable of.' Rivera was a linebacker for the Golden Bears from 1980 to 1983 before getting drafted by the Chicago Bears, with whom he spent nine seasons and won the Super Bowl in 1985. He was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. After hanging up his cleats, Rivera spent 27 years coaching in the NFL, including 12 years with the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Commanders. Rivera led Carolina to the Super Bowl in 2015 and was named Coach of the Year twice in Charlotte. Rivera joins a number of general managers to jump into collegiate programs, aiming to assist coaches and help grow a landscape marked by new rules around student-athlete compensation and highly active transfer portals. 'Chancellor Lyons and I have been discussing the potential for this role for quite some time, and to be able to fill this role with someone like Ron Rivera is beyond exciting,' Knowlton said. Rivera was a linebacker at UC Berkeley from 1980 to 1983 before getting drafted into the NFL Rivera spent 27 years as an NFL coach, including 12 years with the Panthers and commanders 'Not only does Ron understand football and the increasingly complicated landscape of intercollegiate athletics, he is fully committed to the ideals of the Cal student-athlete. This is a huge moment in time for our football program.' Rivera maintained a strong connection to the university, as he and his wife Stephanie have consistently supported Cal's football, women's basketball, softball, and golf programs. Stephanie played basketball for the Bears and is a UC Berkeley Foundation Trustee and California Legends Collective board member. Ron and Stephanie have given more than $1million to Cal athletics 'I couldn't be more excited to welcome Ron Rivera to this role,' Wilcox said. '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.' Share or comment on this article: Former NFL coach Ron Rivera in shock career move Add comment