Former Panthers Head Coach Reveals Lymph Node Cancer Diagnosis

ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted Thursday night that former Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has been diagnosed with lymph node cancer after a self-check.

Rivera, who now works as the head coach of the Washington Football Team, told Schefter that it is in the early states and is considered to be "very treatable and curable".

According to a statement from the Washington Football Team, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Rivera stated, "I was stunned. But I was angry because I feel like, I feel like I'm in the best health I've been in." He revealed the news of his cancer to his team on Thursday night.

Regardless of the diagnosis, Rivera still plans to continue coaching, but has a back up plan in place if he needs some time off.

"Doctors encouraged me to do it, too," he told Schefter. "They said, 'If you feel strongly, do it. Don't slow down, do your physical activities.' But everyone keeps telling me by week 3 or 4, you'll start feeling it."

Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers for almost nine years, lead the team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015, and was named the Associated Press' Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015.

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