Ron Rivera doesn't 'want an atmosphere where people are afraid to tell the truth'

The Washington Football Team has been under fire the past couple of months for various reason, and Ron Rivera wants to turn things around. 

The Washington head coach wants to change the environment following the team's name change and sexual assault allegations.

He's no stranger to change, either. 

Rivera was head coach of the Carolina Panthers when Jerry Richardson was fined and forced out of the organization after an investigation about sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace. He helped play a role in turning things around, and now he wants to do the same in Washington. 

"I really want an open-door policy," Rivera told John Keim of ESPN. "A lot of those things occurred [in Carolina] and people were afraid to speak up. ... I don't want an atmosphere where people are afraid to tell the truth."

While Rivera's duty is to coach, he told Keim that he plans to also focus more on the business side of things as well. 

Rivera was hired by Washington this offseason after his career with the Carolina Panthers came to an end. He spent nine years with Carolina, going 76-63-1. He also led the team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015. 

His final season with the Panthers wasn't a good one. The organization struggled as Cam Newton, who now is with the New England Patriots, suffered injuries that ended his season early. Carolina went 5-7 on the season with Kyle Allen serving as QB1 for a majority of the campaign.

Before starting his new position in Washington, Rivera also spent time with the Chicago Bears from 2004-06 and the San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers from 2008-10.