Colts coach Chuck Pagano surprised his team earlier this month. He surprised them again on Friday.
Via the Associated Press, Pagano showed up at practice, two days before the Colts face the Patriots in a battle of 6-3 teams.
“It was a beautiful moment,” interim coach Bruce Arians said. “He came and enjoyed a good bunch of sunshine and talked to the guys and it was another beautiful day.”
“It caught everybody by surprise,” receiver Reggie Wayne said. “That was a great finishing to a great day of practice. Like I said, whenever he is able to address the team, give us a little words of wisdom, it’s always a great feeling.”
The Colts continue to derive inspiration from their coach, whose leukemia is in complete remission but who still has another round of chemotherapy.
“I’ve seen it so many times where a group of guys band together, and different slogans, ‘Won’t be denied,’ this or that or whatever, they all come up with something, this is just, ‘1-2-3-Chuck,’” Arians said.
The goal remains for Pagano to return to the sidelines for the regular-season finale, on December 30 against the Texans.