In a touching sign of solidarity for Chuck Pagano, the Indianapolis Coltshave shaved their heads to honor their head coach's battle with leukemia.
According to ESPN, as many as 30 Colts players have shaved their head, including quarterback Andrew Luck, receiver Reggie Wayne and linebacker Robert Mathis.
Here is a look at Luck—neck beard and all—posing for the camera after shaving his head for Pagano, courtesy of the Colts' Instagram page:
To honor the #ChuckStrong movement, the team's Twitter feed also sent out a picture with all of the players who shaved their heads (along with one noticeable set of dreadlocks):
Pagano, in his first season with the Colts, was diagnosed with leukemia on Sept. 26, and took a leave of absence following the team's Week 3 game. Expected to undergo four to six months of treatment, the prognosis has been great so far.
According to what Dr. Larry Cripe told the Associated Press, Pagano's cancer is in remission and his second round of chemotherapy will begin soon, per ESPN.
That news came just one day after the Indianapolis coach made a touching appearance in the locker room after the team's 23-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The moment was captured by cameras and will undoubtedly go down as one of the most heartwarming highlights of 2012.
Obviously, this sign of solidarity after that speech is no coincidence. After tweeting a message referencing Pagano's second round of treatment, long snapper MattOverton showed his support with punter Pat McAfee and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
No matter your rooting interest, it's almost impossible to root against the Colts after this amazing display of affection. Not too often in sports do you get an entire team to band together to do anything, let alone strip their vanity to support a greater cause.
This is a situation that speaks not only to Pagano as a coach and mentor, but to the character of the players in Indianapolis. In a sports world that too often shines a light on the negative, the Colts deserve credit for making the best out of a difficult situation.
