Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera says the toughest thing to do after his team’s perfect season ended with a Week 16 loss at Atlanta wasn’t addressing his team or his coaching staff.
It was stepping off the bus at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday night and facing the 300 or so fans lined up in the parking lot.
Rivera thanked the fans for showing up and high-fived as many as he could. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d let them down.
“I felt like I disappointed them,” Rivera said Monday. “The support we’ve gotten over my five seasons has grown and grown, and the fans have been tremendous.