Panthers Coach, NFL Commish Visit Fort Bragg

When Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera visited Fort Bragg in early June, it felt like home. For him, the visit brought back memories of his younger years, when he was raised on military installations just like this one.

It could be that the military helped to mold his coaching career in the NFL. The early mornings, the long days, the late nights, the enormous structure and less down time than you can count on most days.

The new Panther head coach joined NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on a trip to the base and spent time sharing stories with soldiers.

Rivera’s father was drafted in 1952 and turned a two-year stint into a 32-year commitment that included two tours in Vietnam. He lived on five different bases in three countries. 

Rivera spent the entire day with the commissioner and the soldiers that reminded him most of his father. When asked how his day was, Rivera replied that he “had a lot of flashbacks today.”

"Reveille at our base was at 6 o'clock, but my dad used to get up at 5:30 and would be out of the house at 6. On his way out, he'd rap on everybody's door, telling us it was time to get up. Then on Saturdays, there was no sleeping in. By 7, every lawn mower on base was on."

Rivera said if it weren’t for the military, he would be a much different person. He said it has helped him as a person, a player and a coach.

"I was actually recruited to go to West Point," Rivera said. "My father told me that the military might not be the best career option for me with the opportunity I had to go to college and play. That's the path I decided to take."

Rivera played at University of California, Berkeley, where he became an All-American player. He then went on to play for the Chicago Bears and eventually won a Super Bowl. He has since been coaching around the league with the Panthers being his first head coaching stop.

Even though Rivera was never in the military, the military is instilled in him.

"Because of my background, growing up in the military, I think this is the least I could do, especially in light of our current situation, being at war," Rivera said. "We appreciate their sacrifices and what they mean to us, giving us the opportunity to play professional football and protecting the freedoms and rights of this country."

Both Rivera and Goodell were celebrities on base. At numerous spots, soldiers had the chance to line up to meet the pair along with Mike Rucker, former defensive end for the Panthers.

"I feel honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to come here and spend time with these soldiers and their families," Rivera said. "The biggest thing about today was the people. One of the things I found truly amazing was everybody saying, ‘Please' and ‘Thank you.' They were thanking me when truthfully I just wanted to thank them."

Rivera said that he was given the Fort Bragg Garrison coin for the U.S. Army plus a Airborne patch while he was visiting. He said he would “cherish the patch,” which he likened to a super bowl ring.