Washington Football Team Coach Ron Rivera Reveals He Has Cancer

Ron Rivera, the first-year head coach of the Washington Football Team, revealed on Thursday that he has early stage lymphoma.

The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Rivera said that he felt a lump in his neck in early July. He eventually talked to a doctor about it when the lump did not go away. Rivera has consulted with numerous doctors and specialists and is the process of establishing a treatment plan with the team and an outside specialist. He was diagnosed two weeks ago and is 58 years old.

“I was stunned,” Rivera told Schefter. “But I was angry because I feel like I’m in best health I’ve been in.”

Since joining the Washington Football Team, Rivera has had to confront all of the challenges that come with being the head coach of a new organization, while navigating the unique circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, he has taken on a team that is in the process of undergoing a thorough culture shift amidst a tumultuous summer. The Washington Post released a report detailing the sexual assault allegations of 15 female former team employees and two female reporters in July, and Washington retired the 87-year old moniker, “Redskins,” after facing financial pressure from sponsors.

Rivera’s diagnosis comes in the midst of training camp. The team started working in full pads on Tuesday – a crucial time for a new head coach who is not only trying to transform team culture off the field but guide Washington to its first winning season since 2016.

According to ESPN, the team learned about Rivera’s diagnosis on Thursday night. He assured them that the cancer is in the early stages and is considered “very treatable and curable.”

“Some were stunned,” Rivera said to 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.’ “

For now, Rivera is going to continue his coaching duties.

“Doctors encouraged me to do it, too,” he told Schefter. “They said, ‘If you feel strongly, do it. Don’t slow down, do your physical activities.’ But everyone keeps telling me by Week 3 or 4, you’ll start feeling it.”

Though the plan is for Rivera to go about his job as normal, he said that a “Plan B” is in place for the team if he cannot coach.

Washington’s defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is the only coach on staff with prior head coaching experience in the NFL, having served as a head coach for both the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-11) and Oakland Raiders (2015-17). The team’s offensive coordinator, Scott Turner, is a first-year coordinator and has been a position coach with four other NFL teams.

Rivera is hoping it doesn’t come to “Plan B” though.

“I’m going through the proper treatment,” Rivera said to Schefter. “This will be fine.”