Ron Rivera Has 'No Regrets' About Taking Washington NFL Job amid Allegations

Washington NFL head coach Ron Rivera told Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer via text message that he has "no regrets" about taking the job in January, prior to what has become an offseason of controversy for the team. 

"No regrets," Rivera texted. "I look forward to the challenge of improving a 3-13 team. I want to build a sustainable winning culture, in every facet."

After years of criticism, Washington will be changing its nickname, which is a racial slur against Indigenous people.

On Thursday, Will Hobson and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reported that 15 women said they were sexually harassed when they worked for the franchise between 2006 and 2019. Two female reporters also said they were sexually harassed by team employees.

Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers from 2011-19 and led the team to four playoff appearances, three NFC South titles and one NFC championship win. The Panthers fired Rivera after getting off to a 5-7 start last year, a season that culminated in the Panthers' second straight season out of the playoffs.

Rivera is a well-respected and successful head coach, however, who is now tasked with help cleaning up a culture he played no part in forming.

"Biggest thing is that we have to move forward from this and make sure everybody understands we have policies that we will follow and that we have an open-door policy with no retribution," he said to John Keim of ESPN.

He also spoke with Hobson and Clarke: "We're trying to create a new culture here. We're hoping to get people to understand that they need to judge us on where we are and where we're going—as opposed to where we've been."

The league issued a statement Friday regarding the WaPo report:

"These matters as reported are serious, disturbing and contrary to the NFL's values. Everyone in the NFL has the right to work in an environment free from any and all forms of harassment.

"Washington has engaged outside counsel to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations. The club has pledged that it will give its full cooperation to the investigator and we expect the club and all employees to do so. We will meet with the attorneys upon the conclusion of their investigation and take any action based on the findings."

Per Hobson and Clarke, the team has retained attorney Beth Wilkinson and her firm Wilkinson Walsh "to conduct a thorough independent review of this entire matter and help the team set new employee standards for the future."