Back to the Top News Newsfeed

'Riverboat Ron' Rivera lives up to his nickname at Kentucky Derby

Related Topics: Ron Rivera, Kentucky Derby

Ron Rivera was once a quiet, unassuming coach for the Carolina Panthers. On fourth-and-1, he'd usually do the conservative thing and punt the ball away.

Then, Rivera started rolling the dice in some of those situations … and he won, again and again. The Panthers started winning, and Rivera earned the nickname "Riverboat Ron."

MORE: 2016 Derby's best, worst hats | Why the Derby is best party in sports

The affable Rivera has embraced that fun nickname, never more so than Saturday when he and his wife, Stephanie, were on hand at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.