Chuck Pagano returned to work for the first time since his cancer diagnosis. (AP)

Colts interim coach Bruce Arians told reporters this past weekend that Chuck Pagano, who’s been battling with leukemia for the past three months, would return to his head coaching job. On Monday, Pagano held his re-introductory press conference in what turned out to be an emotional meeting. Pagano spent the first several minutes thanking everybody who helped him send the cancer into remission.

Pagano said the scariest part of Monday was the thought that he might not mention somebody that he wanted to thank. But he was masterful and emotional and inspirational in his remarks. Here’s a portion of what he said:

“The happiest day of my life was July 1, 1989. That’s when I got married to my wife, Tina. I want to thank you. She’s a soldier, a warrior, my soul mate. And my family. My mom and dad, my daughters. You can’t get through something like this without somebody as strong and as loving as your family. I thank you, Tina. She never left my side [in the hospital] except to go home and do some laundry. We were there 25 days. You got me through and I thank you.

“The circumstances, they don’t make you. They reveal you. There are things that go on in the National Football League, around our communities, our neighborhoods, the world, the country, the city, and you shake your head and say, 'Why?' A couple ballplayers lost in recent weeks and months. Sandy hits the East Coast, and you wonder why. You ask yourself Sept. 26, when I’m sitting in front of the doctor and he diagnosed me and told me exactly what I have. For a second there, you sit back and say, ‘Why?’ Again, circumstances don’t make you. They reveal you. What they revealed to me along with the love and support of my wife and my family, is that my owner Jim Irsay and his family, there’s not a better man in the entire National Football League.

“The first phone call I made after I got this job was to Bruce to see if he’d be interested [in the offensive coordinator job]. I thank God he was available and interested, and I thank him again today. He was the first phone call I made on a Sunday after I was admitted to the hospital. I told him my circumstances and asked him if he would lead this team and this ballclub and this organization and take over the reins. What a masterful, masterful job you did, Bruce. You carried the torch and all you went out and did was win nine ballgames and get us our 10th win [Sunday] and you got us into the playoffs. You did it with dignity and with class. You’re everything I always knew you were and more. …

“When I asked Bruce to take over, I said, ‘You’ve got to kick some you-know-what and you have to do great.’ But damn Bruce, you had to go win nine games? That's a tough act to follow. I’ve got my hands full.”


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