If teams contact San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to interview for coaching positions, he won't be answering the phone. Not just yet.
Rivera said Monday that he has declined overtures from several teams requesting an interview, and he won't talk with prospective teams until after the Chargers have been eliminated from the playoffs.
"My sole focus and concentration right now is helping the Chargers win a championship," Rivera said in a statement released by the team. "Nothing else matters right now. I don’t want to let anything distract from our objective."
The Chargers beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-17 in overtime in their wild-card playoff game Saturday. On Sunday, the Chargers travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in the divisional round.
Rivera joined the Chargers in 2007 as inside linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator on Oct. 28 after the team fired Ted Cottrell. Rivera previously ran the Bears defense from 2003-2006.