Ron Rivera revealed great news Friday. The Washington Football Team head coach told reporters his final chemotherapy treatment is set for Monday. While there will be further tests and follow-ups, Rivera said he was told everything is “headed in the right direction.”
Rivera announced in August he had been diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma located in his lymph node. He described the cancer as “very treatable” and “curable.”
Despite the illness, Rivera has continued to coach Washington. But not without challenges. In Week 1, he received an IV treatment during halftime against the Philadelphia Eagles. The following week, he traveled separately from the team to Arizona for their game against the Cardinals. Then flew back ahead of the team to get rest prior to a chemotherapy treatment.
He endured a difficult week of treatment ahead of their Week 4 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Rivera missed the first practice of the week and then had to leave early the next day. He received two full bags of IV prior to the game. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio filled in during each of his absences from the team.
Still for the most part, it’s been business as usual for Rivera in his first year in Washington. With the cancer treatments behind him, he’ll be able to put more focus on his craft of coaching Washington, who has a 1-5 record heading into Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
