Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera has been diagnosed with lymph node cancer, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rivera told Schefter that the cancer is in the early stages, and is considered “very treatable and curable.” The two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year shared the news with the team on Thursday night.
Washington Head Coach Ron Rivera tells me he has been diagnosed with lymph node cancer after a self check. Rivera shared the news with his team tonight but says the cancer is in the early stages and is considered “very treatable and curable”.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
Ron Rivera told his team tonight that he had cancer. "Some were stunned. 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.' "
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
Rivera said, “I was stunned. But I was angry because I feel like I’m in the best health I’ve been in.”
Ron Rivera to ESPN on his reaction to the news that he had lymph node cancer: "I was stunned. But I was angry because I feel like I feel like I’m in best health I’ve been in."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
The 58-year-old added that he will continue to coach, and doctors have encouraged him to do so.
More Ron Rivera: “I’m planning to go on coaching. 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.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
Rivera is entering his first season as Washington head coach, after spending the previous nine seasons as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. He put together a 76-63 record with Carolina, with the 2015 team reaching the Super Bowl after a 15-1 regular season.