Add Ron Rivera to the list of candidates reportedly being considered by the Rams in their bid to find a new head coach.
The Panthers coach, who guided the franchise to the NFC championship last season and has taken the team to the playoffs three straight years, is by all accounts happy in Carolina. And there's been no whisper of discontent from team owner Jerry Richardson about his job security.
But the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Rivera is "a name to watch" in the Rams' coaching search.
MORE: Best candidates for Rams
That prompted the Charlotte Observer to contact Rivera's agent, Frank Bauer, who told the paper, “There hasn’t been any contact. Ron’s super happy where he’s at."
The Rams, looking to hire a big-name coach to replace the departed Jeff Fisher, had already been rumored earlier this week to be interested in Saints coach Sean Payton, according to Pro Football Talk.
With both Rivera and Payton currently under contract with their respective teams, the Rams would have to work out a trade involving money and/or draft picks. And, of course, the coach would have to agree to the trade.
Former Buccaneers coach and current NFL broadcaster Jon Gruden is among other high-profile names to surface in the rumor mill, along with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan.