Washington coach Ron Rivera has cancer

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
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”.

To be clear and specific, Washington HC Ron Rivera has Squamous cell cancer of his neck. He was diagnosed with it two weeks ago. He told his team about it tonight. He plans to go on coaching this season, but has set up backup plans as well.

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.”

Rivera wants to pass along his gratitude to team doctors, trainers and health-care specialists for helping him through treatments. He also wants to thank the Snyders, the entire Washington organization, his assistant coaches, players, fans, friends and family for love and support

The 58-year-old Ron Rivera has consulted with a number of doctors and specialists and is establishing a treatment plan with the team and an outside specialist. For now, it’s business as usual for Washington but a “Plan B” is in place.

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’m in best health I’ve been in.”

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Washington coach Ron Rivera is fighting lymph node cancer https://t.co/K7NM2pJPAq

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 21, 2020

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