Colts coach Chuck Pagano returned to the team’s facility on Monday after a taking an indefinite leave in September to undergo treatment for leukemia, reports the Associated Press. Pagano joined the team for the 2012 season, his first NFL head coaching job. He remained in close contact with players and coaches during his leave and gave pregame and postgame speeches.

Pagano addressed the media in an emotional press conference Monday morning and thanked several people who supported him during his recovery, including Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson, owner Jim Irsay and fans:

Pagano: to fans. prayers, love, support, the out-pouring . . . i can't imagine a community embracing someone they hardly know—
Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 24, 2012

Pagano: if you're going to go thru what i've been thru, there is no place i'd rather be than the state of Indiana.—
Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 24, 2012

Pagano also expressed his appreciation for interim coach Bruce Arians:

Pagano: to Bruce. you're everything I thought you were, and more. Never be able to repay the coaching staff for all they've done—
Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 24, 2012

Pagano: what a masterful, masterful job you did Bruce. You carried the torch. All you went and did was win 9 ballgames, got us into playoffs—
Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 24, 2012

The Colts go into the final game of the season with a 10-5 record and have already clinched a Wild Card  spot in the playoffs. They’ll play the Texans on Sunday, and if all goes well at practice, Pagano is expected to be making the calls from the sideline.

Emotional Chuck Pagano addresses media twitter.com/mchappell51/st…

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 24, 2012

Colts coach Chuck Pagano could return to coach the team’s season finale. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano concluded his final round of chemotherapy in his battle with leukemia and could be available to coach in the season finale, reports the Indianapolis Star.

“I’m fully supportive and I have my fingers crossed that he’ll be there on the sideline if that’s where he wants to be,” Dr. Larry Cripe of IU Health Simon Cancer Center said Tuesday. “Things are going well. He’s received all of the chemotherapy he was to receive. Now it’s just a matter of over the next couple of weeks recovering back to health. He can start conditioning and moving towards what he wants to do, which is return to coaching.”

When asked if Pagano could return to the sidelines for the season finale on Dec. 30 against Houston Texans, Cripe said that decision will be made by the coach and the organization but that is it medically possible for Pagano to coach again this season depending on how he felt.  Assistant Bruce Arians has coached the team in Pagano’s absence. Indianapolis is 8-4 this season and fighting for a playoff spot in the AFC.

Andrew Luck has joined his teammates in their shaven heads movement to support coach Chuck Pagano as he undergoes treatment for leukemia.

Over 25 Colts players have now shaved their heads. Director of player engagement David Thornton had a barber waiting in the locker room after Tuesday’s practice.

Long snapper Matt Overton tweeted a picture of himself and teammates Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri sporting the new look.

#TeamCHUCKSTRONG @PatMcAfeeShow @adamvinatieri http://t.co/Ahw98zh3

—
Matt Overton (@MattOverton_LS) November 06, 2012

Pagano’s treatment is going well so far; his physician reported Monday that the coach’s illness is in “complete remission” and tests were normal. Pagano was even able to attend Sunday’s game in-person, watching the Colts win their third straight game. On Monday, interim coach Bruce Arians expressed his hope that Pagano would return to full coaching duties this season.

Doctors for Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano say his acute promyelocytic leukemia is in remission and the coach will continue with a second round of chemotherapy, reports the Indianapolis Star.

A bone marrow aspirate test did not detect any evidence of disease, leading oncologist Dr. Larry Cripe to pronounce Pagano in remission. Still, statistics show that with cancers of this type, it’s necessary not to ease up on the chemotherapy at this point, in case cancer is still lurking.

“We need to keep going and we will not be able to use the word ‘cure’ for four or five years,” Cripe said.

Pagano was diagnosed with the subtype of acute myeloid leukemia in September and turned the team over to assistant Bruce Arians. Pagano visited the Colts’ locker room and made an emotional speech after the team’s 23-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, which put the Colts at 5-3 and second place in the AFC South.

Colts coach Chuck Pagano reportedly will miss a month to illness. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Update: Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported via Twitter Colts coach Chuck Pagano has been diagnosed with leukemia.

Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star reported Pagano would miss several games due to a “serious” illness.

Pagano had been feeling unusual fatigue in recent weeks and got blood tests during the bye week.

The Colts will have a press conference this morning, at which time they will introduce Pagano’s doctor and offer more specifics on his illness.

One top organization official acknowledged it’s serious, but added “we’re very optimistic about his recovery.”

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will take over as the team’s head coach for this week’s game against Green Bay. Pagano hired Arians during the offseason to help develop rookie quarterback Andrew Luck.

The Star recently profiled the “intense” Pagano and the importance his family plays in his professional life.

Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has been named the Indianapolis Colts new head coach, according to Bob Kravitz of the Indy Star.

Confirmed: Chuck Pagano is the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

—
Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 25, 2012

Pagano, 51, has served as a defensive coach for the Ravens since 2008. He has no prior head coaching experience.

The Colts went 2-14 this past season in the absence of Peyton Manning, leading to ex-head coach Jim Caldwell’s firing earlier this month. Manning’s future with the team is still unknown.