The Washington Football team has had its fair share of challenges recently from bowing to renewed pressure to change the team’s nickname to accusations of sexual harassment by 15 women that lead to the departure of several once key front office personnel.
That doesn’t even address the challenges on the field as the beleaguered team is still seeking a solution at quarterback as former shot-caller Alex Smith returns from a gruesome injury and starter Dwayne Haskins is still evolving.
This year, the team brought in Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera to address the on-field issues and former NFL player turned executive Jason Wright who became the NFL’s first-ever African American team president earlier this week.
But today, Rivera, 58, announced that he has cancer. The former NFL player and veteran coach said that he’s been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma which was discovered in a lymph node.
ESPN first reported the news on Friday.
The cancer is in an early stage and treatable, Rivera said. He plans to continue coaching through his treatment.
“Doctors encouraged me to do it too,” he told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday night. “They said, ‘If you feel strongly, do it. Don’t slow down, do your physical activities.’ But everyone keeps telling me by week three or four, you’ll start feeling it.”
According to ESPN, Rivera has established himself with the Washington Football Team pretty quickly. He said told the team about his diagnosis last night after their evening meeting and was gratified by the support he received.
“Some were stunned. A bunch came up and wished me well,” Rivera said. “I said, ‘I’m going to be a little more cranky, so don’t piss me off.'”
New hire Wright tweeted his support as did others in the NFL world including some of Rivera’s former players.
Rivera, who is of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, has been married to his wife, Stephanie, since 1984. The couple has two kids. He’s one of few head coaches of color in the NFL, earning the name Riverboat Ron for his coaching gambles.
In 1985, Rivera became the first player of Puerto Rican descent to win a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears, the team known for the “Super Bowl Shuffle.”
He took the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2016 in a losing effort led by starting quarterback Cam Newton. Newton is now with the New England Patriots.
Rivera’s brother, Mickey, died of pancreatic cancer in 2015 and Rivera says his resolve is inspired by him.
“The thing I shared with the players is that my brother Mickey made a total commitment,” Rivera said in 2015. “I have told the players how making a total commitment is so important.”
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Rivera said he told his current team: “I’m going through the proper treatment,” he said. “This will be fine.”
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