Ron Rivera Becomes Third Latino NFL Coach Ever

[Editor’s Note: Thanks to Vincent Bosquez for the tip, here’s part of his update and part of mine.]

Ron Rivera has been named head coach of the Carolina Panthers. He’s of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent and is the third Hispanic head coach in the NFL after Tom Fears (first head coach of the New Orleans Saints  1967-1970) and Tom Flores (Oakland/LA Raiders and Seattle Seahawks).

This is Rivera’s first head coaching position.

According to the Associated Press, the Carolina Panthers are the NFL’s worst team, this is Rivera’s eighth interview for head coach and:

It’s the first head coaching job for the 49-year-old Rivera, a son of a U.S. Army officer who is of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage. He joins ex-Raiders and Seahawks boss Tom Flores as the only Hispanic head coaches.

“I’m very proud of the fact that I am of Hispanic descent,” Rivera said. “I’m very honored to have this opportunity.”

Go Ron! That’s a lot of tenacity and persistence — the good stuff!