Update:
The Washington Football Team issued the following statement confirming much of the news regarding Ron Rivera’s cancer diagnoses:
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 21, 2020
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Washington Head Coach Ron Rivera has been diagnosed with lymph node cancer after a self-check.
Schefter clarifies that River is specifically dealing with Squamous cell cancer of his neck and was diagnosed with it two weeks ago. He plans to coach this season, but has set up backup plans as well.
Rivera told the team Thursday night and said the cancer is in the early stages and is considered “very treatable and curable.”
According to Schefter, Rivera has consulted with a number of doctors and specialists and is establishing a treatment plan with the team and an outside specialist.
Schefter says that for now, it’s business as usual for Washington but a “Plan B” is in place.
Rivera said of 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.”
Rivera, 57, is a former second-round pick of the Bears back in 1984. He played several seasons in Chicago before taking his first coaching job with the Bears in 1997. He worked for the Eagles and Chargers before the Panthers hired him as their head coach in 2011.
Rivera spent nine years as the Panthers head coach and has led them to a record of 76-63-1, which includes four playoff appearances and a trip to the Super Bowl following the 2015 season. He has been named the AP coach of the year twice before Carolina moved on after the 2019 season.
Washington moved quickly to hire Rivera as their head coach.
Our thoughts are with Rivera during this time and we wish him the best in his battle with cancer.
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