SAN FRANCISCO — Ron Rivera has won The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award for the second time in three years.
Rivera led the Carolina Panthers to an unprecedented third straight NFC South title and two playoff victories. He has the Panthers in the Super Bowl with a 17-1 record; they face the Denver Broncos on Sunday for the championship.
In a season featuring several outstanding coaching jobs, Rivera easily outdistanced the field. He received 36 1-2 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league. That was far in front of Kansas City's Andy Reid with six votes.