Imrem: How Ron Rivera stays successful on and off the field
A May 17, 1984, column on Ron Rivera is being republished in today's sports section. Rivera was a Bears rookie linebacker participating in his first minicamp then, and Sunday he'll coach the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Different time, same sport, different job, same guy: tough, intelligent, conscientious, detailed and all the other qualities it takes to be successful in life.
Before the 1984 draft, combine scout Don Joyce all but guaranteed that Rivera would be a successful NFL player. Joyce was correct, though how correct depends on your definition of NFL success.
Rivera wasn't a starter on the iconic '85 Bears defense, a perennial Pro Bowl player or a Hall of Famer. Still, despite lacking NFL speed, Rivera played nine seasons for the Bears, a career that countless second-round draft choices would love to have.
Characterized as a throwback player, the same is said of Rivera as an NFL head coach.
Said by whom?
Said by him.
"We still use a fullback," Rivera said of the position becoming obsolete in the NFL, "and we still run power (offense)."
The equivalent of "tough" as a player is "strong" as a coach, and Rivera has been both.
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson must see the same traits in Rivera as a coach that scouts saw in him four decades ago as a player.
The Panthers struggled during the first two years under Rivera and as recently as much of the 2014 season.
"Mr. Richardson had the patience to stay with me," Rivera said.
Richardson is the rare NFL owner who played in the league. Carolina players appreciate him and Rivera for understanding what they feel when they feel it.
The Panthers listen when Rivera says, "Don't let 'it' get in the way. Stay focused on the task at hand but stay true to who you are."
Rivera lists among his coaching mentors heavyweights such as Joe Kapp, Mike Ditka, John Madden, Andy Reid, Jim Johnson and Buddy Ryan.
"I learned from Jim Johnson and Buddy Ryan that playing defense is an attitude," Rivera said.
That's how the Bears and Rivera played under Ryan, how the Eagles played under Johnson when Rivera was an assistant coach, and how the Panthers play under Rivera and his staff now.
Attitude has its limits to a throwback, like when the subject of the 1985 Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle" was raised.
"It's funny," Rivera said, "because the 'Super Bowl Shuffle' came out after we lost to Miami. But it seemed like a fun thing to do."
So Rivera wouldn't mind if his Panthers did a "Shuffle" of their own?
"If our guys wanted to do something like that," he smiled, "I'd be pretty concerned."
Other similarities to the 1985 Bears are welcome, like the 17-1 record leading up to the Super Bowl. Matching 18-1 on Sunday would be just fine, too.
Rivera heard from several former Bears recently, which was no surprise considering it would be difficult for them to not like a teammate like him.
The same goes for Bears fans, media members who covered Rivera here. and people he worked with at local radio and television outlets.
Rivera not only was a part of the Bears' two Super Bowl teams - as a player in XX and defensive coordinator in XLI - he's a terrific guy.
As intense as Ron Rivera can be about football, that's how mellow he can be away from the game.
Yes, that applies to then and right up 'til now.
mimrem@dailyherald.com