Two dozen big tuff NFL football players and two sexy cheerleaders shaved their heads a few weeks ago in sympathy for their head coach. These folks aren’t the types to go around shaving their heads for just anybody. Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano must be a very special person indeed to inspire such loyalty. He was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia back in September and took an indefinite leave of absence from his coaching duties to pursue kimo treatments at a hospital in Indianapolis. His doctors announced that Pagano’s cancer was in remission on November 5 and that he was getting better every day.
It was announced last weekend by Colts interim coach Bruce Arians that Coach Chuck Pagano would be returning to the coaching field soon. He picked Christmas Eve to make his comeback and his timing could not have been better. It was obvious, even over the television, that the players and staff were very happy to have their coach back for Santa Claus. Pagano took a few minutes to say an emotional thank you to everyone who helped him in his battle against the cancer. He went on to give thanks his wife Tina and to Colts owner Jim Irsay and his family saying, “there’s not a better man in the entire National Football League”.
Chuck Pagano first came to the NFL in 2001 to work with the secondary of the Cleveland Browns and he enjoyed a great success there. In 2004 he went out to California and coached the defensive backs of the Oakland Raiders where his coaching skills and positive results brought him more and more attention in the press and in coaching circles. Jim Harbaugh brought Pagano aboard on the initial coaching staff of the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. Everywhere he went, the defense just got better and better.
Finally, on January 25, 2012 Chuck Pagano was named Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The first call he made after being hired by the Colts was to Bruce Arians in hopes that he would be available as offensive coordinator. Arians was eager to take the job and how well that has turned out for both parties. The Colts are currently at 10-5 and stand poised to enter the post season. This is especially impressive after the 2011 season in which the Colts had the worst record in pro football. Welcome back Coach Chuck!
