Chuck Pagano was fired after six seasons as the Colts head coach, but there were some good times during his tenure and he took out an ad in a local newspaper to thank the fans in Indianapolis.
Many Colts fans felt that Chuck Pagano’s firing was long overdue as the team had gone stale over the past few seasons. Even though this season’s poor record could be blamed on playing with a backup quarterback all year long and injuries to multiple key players, it was bad enough to end the Pagano era in Indianapolis.
Pagano’s six seasons weren’t all bad, however, as the team went 11-5 and made the playoffs in each of his first three years in Indianapolis. The high point of Pagano’s tenure included a trip to the AFC Championship Game, but that season ended on a sour note as the Colts were blown out by the Patriots in the infamous “Deflategate” game.
Pagano was diagnosed with cancer in his first season with the Colts, which inspired so much support from the Indianapolis area and the entire NFL community as he underwent treatments and was forced to be away from the team.
The former Colts head coach decided to focus on the fans’ support for the team, and him personally, during his six years in Indianapolis in his thank you letter. Pagano wanted to send a message of thanks to the Colts’ fanbase, so he took out a full-page ad in the Indianapolis Star and did just that.
Classy move from Chuck Pagano to take out this ad in today’s @indystar. “My only regret is not being able to deliver the Lombardi Trophy to this city that deserves to hoist it again.” pic.twitter.com/H7NUfgevcs
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 14, 2018
Here are some notable quotes from Pagano’s thank you ad:
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- “I will never forget the outpouring of strength and encouragement that we received from this community, state, and supporters around the globe.”
- “My only regret is not being able to deliver a Lombardi Trophy to this city that deserves to hoist it again.”
- “Through the ups and downs of the last six years, your support for the Indianapolis Colts was unwavering and that’s a testament to you – Colts Nation.”
While Pagano’s tenure in Indianapolis was sometimes frustrating on the field, you have to admire his strength as a man and what he overcame.
Next: Despite a Dismal Record, GM Chris Ballard’s First Season Was a Success