Last night, former Panthers coach Ron Rivera told Adam Schefter at ESPN that he’s been diagnosed with lymph node cancer. Fortunately, his doctors say it’s in the early stages and considered “very treatable.”
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”.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
Rivera is now the head coach for the Washington Football Team but he obviously made a huge impact for Carolina during his 9+ year run as their coach.
Several current and former Panthers players tweeted out their thoughts, prayers and well wishes for Rivera after the news came out.
LB Shaq Thompson
Praying for Coach Ron & the Rivera family…sending y’all love, know Ron gonna beat this 💪🏾🖤 @RiverboatRonHC
— Shaq Thompson (@ShaqThompson_7) August 21, 2020
CB Corn Elder
— Corn Elder (@AIR_CORN23) August 21, 2020
LB Andre Smith
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️ https://t.co/OG9F2UbbvE
— Andre The Giant ⚡️ (@AndreSmith_9) August 21, 2020
Former G Trai Turner
Prayers up for @RiverboatRonHC and the family. Toughest test for His toughest soldiers.
— Trai Turner (@trai_turner) August 21, 2020
Former TE Greg Olsen
We love you coach. You have so many people in your corner.
You always looked out for us. Now it’s our turn. https://t.co/i9WITcUxP1
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) August 21, 2020
Rivera says he plans to continue coaching, but he has backup plans.
More Ron 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.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
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.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2020
Whatever your feelings about his track record as an NFL coach, Rivera is and always has been a class act. Hopefully he has a full recovery and continues coaching a long time. We wish Rivera and his family the best.
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