October in the NFL has previously been known as the time when all 32 teams were allowed to wear pink accessories to support the league's "Crucial Catch" campaign, which raises awareness in fighting breast cancer as well as other types of cancers. While the NFL has since moved away from the pink game-day attire, the league is still coming together to support those who are battling cancer -- which includes one of their 32 head coaches.
Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcimona (SCC) located in a lymph node, and it was detected in a self-care check earlier this offseason. For Week 4, which is the first slate of games to be played in October, around 400 cardboard cutouts were purchased and placed in the Coach's Corner section of FedEx Field to support Rivera. According to ESPN's John Keim, the cutouts were $49, and along with other donations, Washington will donate around $30,000 in Rivera's name to the American Cancer Society.
Players and coaches were also seen wearing shirts that read "Rivera Strong" on Sunday. Check out some of the pictures and videos taken from pregame, here:
This is very cool too - Coach’s Corner has cutouts from across the league to encourage Ron Rivera in his fight against cancer. Raised more than $30k! Coaches like Andy Reid and Sean McDermott and players like Steve Smith and Greg Olsen pic.twitter.com/XNuqMCmZFn
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 4, 2020
Ron Rivera sits in front of cardboard cutouts purchased for this game. Thanks to these plus other donations team will donate around 30k today in his name to the American Cancer Society. The price of the cutouts? $49. That’s Bobby Mitchell’s old number. Did a LOT of work for ACS pic.twitter.com/wSDZDnXYpy
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 4, 2020
Thank you to everyone that sent their cut outs for Coach’s Corner 🙏 #RiveraStrong pic.twitter.com/2gNv2VYhht
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 4, 2020
We're proud to be in your corner, @RiverboatRonHC. ❤️💙#RiveraStrong | #FootballisFamily pic.twitter.com/5NNSMVaUtW
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 4, 2020
We’re all #RiveraStrong today 💪 pic.twitter.com/IVrYTKp3es
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 4, 2020
Les Carpenter of The Washington Post reported that Rivera walked off the field at halftime during Washington's Week 4 bout with the Baltimore Ravens leaning on a staff member's shoulder while talking on the phone. Carpenter was just one of several reporters at FedEx Field to mention that Rivera certainly appears to be fighting through some discomfort Sunday afternoon. At several times during Sunday's game, he was seen sitting on the bench. Washington's "Plan B" will be for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to assume head coaching duties, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
According to Keim, Rivera said before kickoff getting cancer can be overwhelming, but that he's "boosted" by the support he's received. Rivera told his team after the cancer was discovered that it was "very treatable and curable" and in its early stages. Washington's head coach has been undergoing treatment with the team and an outside specialist, but has yet to miss a game in 2020.
