No matter whether you’re a diehard sports fan or can’t stand it and would rather spend your Saturday nights watching reruns of the Gilmore Girls, the story of Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano’s battle against leukaemia is truly inspiring.
For those of you who are unaware of the story, Chuck Pagano, who is a first year head coach in the NFL, was given the reigns of the Indianapolis squad during this past offseason, after the team limped to a 2-14 record in 2011.
Despite been given the almost impossible task of trying to rebuild a franchise that was without future Hall of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning, Pagano was determined that he could turn around the team’s form.
As a result of having the equal worst record in the league, Indianapolis received the number one overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. After much speculation, Pagano make the decision to select quarterback Andrew Luck over Heisman Trophy recipient and all round athlete Robert Griffin III (RG3). The Heisman Trophy is given to the best player in college football.
Following a 1-2 start to the season, and with many positive signs coming out of Indianapolis, there was an incredible amount of buzz among the media and fans that the rookie head coach and quarterback may be able to turn the teams results around.
With the team having the bye in Week 4, Pagano decided to see a doctor after complaining of fatigue and unusual bruising over the previous couple of weeks.
After a nervous wait for results, the 52-year-old former Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator received the news that he and his family had feared. Pagano was diagnosed with a treatable, but still very serious form of leukaemia known as “acute promyelocytic leukaemia” and was admitted into the hospital straight away to start treatment.
News of Pagano’s diagnosis only three games into his head coaching career came as a huge shock to players, staff and supporters all over the country.
Just six days after being told the terrible news, the Colts were forced to turn their attention back to football and take on a very talented Green Bay Packers team in Indianapolis. Being down by what seemed like an insurmountable 21-3 half time deficit, interim head coach Bruce Arians reminded his players that if they followed the game plan and believed they could win, they would have a real shot at victory.
With the added inspiration of getting the win for Pagano, who was watching the game from his hospital bed just down the road, the Colts pulled off one of the greatest come from behind victories in recent memory.
Quarterback Andrew Luck threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns, while veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne had a career day with 212 yards to go along with a touchdown that saw the Colts pull off an emotional 30-27 victory over Green Bay.
Following the game, Colts owner Jim Irsay traveled to the hospital to personally deliver the game ball to Chuck Pagano in what no doubt would have been an emotional moment for both men.
Since starting the season at 1-2, Indianapolis has surged behind Luck to have a winning record of 6-3, which sees them sit second, just behind the Houston Texans in the AFC South and well within reach of a playoff berth.
After being released from the hospital, Pagano was on hand last Sunday (Monday morning Australian time), to see his Colts defeat the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium 23-20, in which Andrew Luck throw for a rookie record 433 yards, to go along with two touchdowns.
In an inspirational post-match speech (video below), Pagano stated that despite needing another round of chemotherapy, that “It [leukaemia] is already beat”.
He went on to say in front of a locker room full of players and staff, “My vision, that I’m living, [is] to see two more daughters get married, dance at their weddings and hoist that Lombardi Trophy** several times.”
In the lead up to the Colts match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night (Friday afternoon Australian time), more then 30 players and members of the coaching staff shaved their heads in a show of support for their coach and to raise awareness for the disease.
With doctors telling Pagano that he is in remission, interim coach Bruce Arians has told the media that he hopes for Chuck to be back for the Colts Week 17 clash against the Houston Texans, although no definite timetable has been set for his return.
For a team that was widely tipped to struggle significantly this season having finished with a 2-14 record just a year ago, and having both a first year coach and starting quarterback leading the team, the Colts have far exceeded everyone’s expectations.
I myself am a Philadelphia Eagles supporter, but I would love nothing more then seeing Indianapolis make it to the playoffs and have Pagano standing on the sideline, aiming to finishing off what he started.
Doctors have said that although Pagano is responding well to chemotherapy, it will take another 4-5 years before they are able to use the word ‘cured’. Hopefully Pagano is able to completely fight off the Leukemia completely sooner rather then later is able to return to the sidelines and continue from where he left off.
What do you think of Pagano’s story? What other stories to come out of sport can you think of that has been able to bring a team together like the Indianapolis Colts?
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