Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton have faced each other as head coaches 15 times, but they actually go way, way back.
In fact, when Payton was in college, he was a big Ron Rivera fan.
Rivera was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears at the time. As a Chicago native, that was Payton’s team.
“I get to age him a little bit,” Payton laughed on a teleconference this week. “...I can’t pinpoint a date, but I do remember the roster back when I was in college, for Chicago.