Sunday against the Texans, Pagano will return to the job he was hired to do 11 months ago. He will coach a game for the first time since Week 3. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
When the day ended, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano turned off the light and left.
The simple gesture, something that perhaps he did without thought each day he left months ago, signified things actually going back to somewhat normal for Pagano. Pagano had just finished his first day back at work since being diagnosed with leukemia in September.
That light in his office stayed on the entire time he was gone. Interim coach Bruce Arians wouldn?t allow anyone to turn it off, and he wouldn?t take over Pagano?s office. Pagano would do that when he returned, not if he returned.
And when Pagano finally left the office on Christmas Eve, with no ceremony or additional thought, he shut off the light.
?By that time I was ready to go,? Pagano said. ?And so I just shut her down and headed home.?
Sunday against the Texans, Pagano will return to the job he was hired to do 11 months ago. He will coach a game for the first time since Week 3.
?When I got diagnosed back on Sept. 26 and the doctor told me exactly what I had and what I had to do to get better, it was just like getting a game plan for Sunday,? Pagano said. ?Doctor gave me a game plan. We put it together. I followed orders best I could. There was never a doubt in my mind at all.?
?Never been gone?
Pagano fought the life-threatening disease for three months. He finished his final round of chemotherapy Dec. 4. His cancer has been in remission since Nov. 5.
Pagano was diagnosed with the disease Sept. 26. As he fought the disease for nearly three months, his presence never left the Colts facility. It wasn?t just the light that Arians kept on in Pagano?s office.
?It sort of feels like he?s never been gone,? Colts quarterback Andrew Luck said. ?It?s just natural for him to fit in. It?s what he does. He?s a football coach.
?Obviously, it?s great to hear his voice. There?s, I think, a little bit more energy because he?s around and that?s not a slight on anybody else but just the fact that he?s here, guys are jazzed up. It feels like he?s always been there.?
#CHUCKSTRONG became both a Twitter hashtag and a mantra in Indianapolis.
Players and cheerleaders shaved their heads in solidarity and to aid cancer research.
A Texans? salute
From Houston, receiver Andre Johnson monitored Pagano?s progress. Pagano had recruited him to the University of Miami more than a decade ago. Johnson often asked Colts receiver Reggie Wayne, his close friend, for updates on Pagano?s progress.
?He was almost like he was a part of our family as much as he was around,? Johnson said. ?It was great to see him back out. I?m pretty sure there will be a lot of emotion and stuff going on. It was hard for me to hear what he was going through, but I?m glad he was able to fight through it.?
And on the field the Colts almost magically became a team that looked nothing like the rebuilding franchise most in the NFL expected. Quickly, Luck showed his talent as a first overall pick.
Despite releasing Peyton Manning in the offseason, the Colts, who won only two games last season, have already won 10 this year. Improbably, they are heading back to the playoffs and have nothing to gain or lose in Sunday?s game. The Colts have secured the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.
?It would have been an easy way to say woe is me and just kind of go in the tank a little bit,? Wayne said. ?But guys just stayed focused. ? We?re on our way to the dance. Everybody knows that once you?re dancing anything can happen. This will be a great start for that playoff run going against (Houston) again this week.?
Standing ovation
On Monday, Pagano returned to work and a week full of the ordinary things every NFL coach does. Film study, meetings, practice and press conferences.
?I felt good afterwards,? Pagano said. ?I?ve got most of my weight back and getting stronger and healthier every day. It seemed, obviously, a little bit longer than what my previous days had been.?
There was one major difference upon his return. When he walked into his first team meeting back Monday, his players gave him a standing ovation.
?Everybody was excited to see him back,? Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said. ?We knew how hard he worked. It?s always good to have your general back in action. Once again, to him, it just goes to show you how strong he is, how tough he is, just to get back out there and kind of walk around and smell the shoulder pads.?
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