Ron Rivera
WSB Exclusive Speaker
General Manager of Cal Football Program; Former NFL Head Coach and NFL Player
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Ron Rivera's speaking fee: $40K - $70K
Ron Rivera
"Ron’s message was exactly what our team needed. He shared powerful, real-world lessons about leadership, resilience, and accountability—and did it in a way that was personal, honest, and incredibly motivating." Financial Services
Ron Rivera is an accomplished NFL football coach, player, motivational speaker, and executive leader. In 2025, he was named General Manager of the California Golden Bears football program, returning to his alma mater to help shape the future of Cal football. Previously, he served as head coach of the Washington Commanders and the Carolina Panthers, and he has also contributed as on-air talent with the NFL Network on shows including Good Morning Football and NFL GameDay.
As head coach of the Commanders, Rivera led the team from 2020 to 2023. Shortly after his start in Washington, he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), detected during a self-care check. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Rivera continued to coach through his treatments without missing a single game, and in January 2021, he was declared cancer-free.
Prior to Washington, Rivera became the winningest head coach in Carolina Panthers history, leading the team from 2011 to 2019. His tenure included three consecutive NFC South Division titles (2013–2015) and the 2015 NFC Championship team that advanced to Super Bowl 50.
As a player, Rivera spent nine seasons as a linebacker with the Chicago Bears, including the legendary 1985 Super Bowl XX championship team. Before his NFL career, he was an All-American linebacker for the University of California, Berkeley, where he first met his wife of nearly 40 years, Stephanie. They are the proud parents of Christopher and Courtney.
Rivera was twice honored as NFL Head Coach of the Year (2013, 2015) and earned the nickname “Riverboat Ron” for his bold, aggressive play-calling. Beyond the field, he has collaborated with top brands including Pepsi, Gatorade, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft Surface, and served as NFL Brand Ambassador to USAA’s Salute to Service.
Today, Rivera brings lessons from four decades in football on the field, on the sidelines, and now in the front office to audiences worldwide, challenging leaders and teams to persevere, adapt, and rise to every occasion.
Featured Videos
Ron Rivera
Ron Rivera Speaking Reel
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Ron Rivera on Unlocking Potential: Cultivating Talent and Empowering Teams
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Ron Rivera on Creating Opportunity for Minority Coaches
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Ron Rivera speaks to NFL Organization Culture
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Ron Rivera on Leadership & Change within the Commanders Culture
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Ron Rivera on Supporting Players During Difficult Times
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Ron Rivera on Using Your Voice for Good
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Ron Rivera on Starting with the Washington Commanders
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Ron Rivera on Overcoming Cancer
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Ron Rivera on How He Got into Coaching
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34th Hispanic Heritage Awards – Sports Award – Coach Ron Rivera
Ron Rivera
34th Hispanic Heritage Awards – Sports Award – Coach Ron Rivera
Ron Rivera’s Speech Topics
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Building Cultures of Excellence
Learn the secrets of how to build a resilient, winning culture as well as effective, high-performing teams from one of the NFL’s premier coaches. As the 2013 and 2015 NFL Head Coach of the Year, Ron Rivera knows what it takes to mold and motivate successful teams. His insight can help your organization succeed in the following areas:
- Creating and maintaining a culture of greatness in the midst of challenge and change
- Communicating with leaders, teammates, and stakeholders to build cohesive teams that align with organizational goals
- Mentoring and connecting in meaningful ways
- How to re-build a team affected by scandal or tragedy
- Shutting off the noise and protecting culture
- Establishing a diverse talent pool and why leaders need to be involved in the hiring process
- Building a disciplined, yet aggressive communication plan
- Bridging departments, encouraging teams to rally around an organization’s vision, and making a significant impact on the bottom line
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Leadership
Through inspiring stories of personal struggles, experiences as a head coach, and his faith, Rivera identifies the core values every leader must display to manage and motivate themselves and others. His insights include:
- How to become the type of leader others follow, even through adversity
- How to hold people (and yourself) accountable
- How to bridge the gap with difficult personalities
- Provide an honest assessment of what people need to hear (and not just what they want to hear)
- Leaders must set the standard and live by their core values before expecting others to do the same
- The difference between dreams and visions and participation and competition
- How to perform at your best
- The discipline it takes to innovate, lead, and take decisive action
- Stories of how his time as a player and coach has shaped his management philosophy
- How the lessons he’s learned can help make you a better leader and coach for your team
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Overcoming Obstacles
Ron Rivera, Former Head Coach of the Washington Commanders, shares the lessons he’s learned from over 40 years of playing and coaching in the NFL. As Superbowl Champion, winningest coach in Carolina Panthers’ history, and former head coach for the Commanders, Rivera knows what it takes to overcome obstacles that stand in the way of success. His insights include experiences of overcoming both personal and professional obstacles:
- Rivera believes the greatest investment you can make is in YOURSELF. He teaches audiences to invest in the things you can control: your attitude, your preparation, and your effort
- As coach of the Carolina Panthers, he took a team that was 2-14 in 2011 and transformed it into an NFL force, including three consecutive NFC South division titles and an appearance in Super Bowl 50
- Soon after being named head coach of the Commanders, Rivera was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma – enduring treatment while continuing to coach, and never missing a game
- Picking up the pieces after having a house-fire while going through cancer treatment in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic
- The pain of losing his brother Mickey to pancreatic cancer
- Staying mentally tough and resilient through faith and personal relationships
- As two-time NFL coach of the year, Rivera has a reputation for hard work, a disciplined approach, and relentless preparation
Ron Rivera Topics & Types
- Athlete Speakers
- Business Speakers
- Cancer Speakers
- Cancer Survivor Speakers
- Coach Speakers
- Courage Speakers
- Diversity & Inclusion Speakers
- Football Motivational Speakers
- Health & Healthcare Speakers
- Hispanic & Latinx Speakers
- Keynote Speakers
- Leadership Speakers
- Motivational Speakers
- Overcoming Adversity Speakers
- Peak Performance Speakers
- Personal Growth Speakers
- Religious Speakers
- Spiritual Motivational Speakers
- Sports Speakers
- Teamwork Speakers
- Virtual Speakers
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