Washington Head Coach Ron Rivera diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the neck
What a whirlwind of a year it has been for the Washington Football Team and their first-year Head Coach Ron Rivera with the regular season still less than a month away.
If it wasn’t already bad enough that Rivera has had to deal with and be on the front lines for the brunt of all the national scrutiny that the franchise has been under over the last few months and really dating back the beginning of the offseason, but now he, unfortunately, has to add cancer on to his list of foes he hopes to defeat in 2020.
On Thursday, the two-time Coach of the Year Award recipient revealed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he has been diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the neck. Rivera shared that the cancer was diagnosed two weeks ago but that it is in its early stages and is considered “very treatable and curable.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, squamous cell carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer that develops in the squamous cells that make up the middle and outer layers of the skin. While it is not considered a life-threatening form of cancer, it can still be aggressive.
He told Schefter that he has expressed his gratitude to team doctors, trainers, and health-care specialists and the Snyder family for supporting him through his treatments. He also extended his thanks to the entire Washington organization, his assistant coaches, players, fans, friends, and family for love and support.
“Some were stunned,” he said, per Schefter. “A bunch came up and wished me well. I said, ‘I’m going to be a little more cranky, so don’t piss me off.'”
Rivera is not only determined to beat his cancer but he is not letting it stop him from doing his job. He still intends to coach the team this year despite his diagnosis.
“I’m planning to go on coaching,” Rivera said, per Schefter. “Doctors encouraged me to do it, too. 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.”
Rivera did tell Schefter that the team has a contingency plan in case he is unable to continue coaching. At 58-years old and undergoing treatment for his cancer diagnosis, he likely now finds himself in the high-risk category for contracting the coronavirus so expect the team to take extra precautions to ensure that their head man stays healthy.
He has over three decades of experience in the NFL as both a player and a coach. Rivera was selected in the second round of the 1984 draft out of the University of California and was a member of the vaunted 1985 Chicago Bears defense that won Superbowl XX (20) and earned the nickname the “Monsters of the Midway”. He’s had a decorated career as a head coach where at the helm of the Carolina Panthers, he compiled a 76-63-1 record, made four trips to the playoffs in seven seasons, including an appearance in Superbowl 50.
