Chargers coordinator Rivera to hold off on coaching interviews

Jan 5, 2009 - 10:31 PM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Ron Rivera will wait until the San Diego Chargers' season is officially over before possibly hopping on the coaching carousel.

Rivera, who has served as San Diego's defensive coordinator for the past two months, will not interview for a head coaching job with another team until the Chargers are eliminated from the playoffs, the team announced Monday.

The 46-year-old Rivera already has declined interview offers from other teams, according to a statement released by the Chargers.

The AFC West champion Chargers (9-8) will attempt to reach the conference title game for the second straight year when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) in Sunday's divisional round clash.

"My sole focus and concentration right now is helping the Chargers win a championship. Nothing else matters right now," Rivera said. "I don't want to let anything distract from our objective."

Rivera was promoted to defensive coordinator on October 28, when the Chargers fired Ted Cottrell from the same post.

Prior to joining the Chargers as a linebackers coach in 2007, Rivera spent the previous three years as the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator.