Panthers retain coach Ron Rivera for 2013

Ron Rivera has survived as Panthers coach into next season. (Getty Images)

Only a couple of NFL coaches remain who don't know their fate for next season. You can take Panthers coach Ron Rivera off that list, as the team announced he has been retained.

"He's going about normal preparations for next season," Panthers spokesman Charlie Dayton told The Associated Press.

There's little doubt the Panthers' season began horribly. They won just two of their first 10 games.

And with quarterback Cam Newton seeming to regress, it made sense Rivera would be in trouble once the season was complete -- especially after general manager Marty Hurney was fired in October.

But late in the season, the Panthers rebounded. They shocked the Falcons 30-20 in Week 14, dominated the Chargers the next week in San Diego and finished the season with wins against the Raiders and Saints.

When Rivera met with owner Jerry Richardson this week, at least Rivera could point to a four-game winning streak at the end of the season to convince Richardson he deserved a third season in Carolina.

According to the Charlotte Observer's Joe Person, Rivera still has two years remaining on his initial $11 million deal. Now, Richardson needs to hire a general manager to fill Hurney's spot.

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