Chuck Pagano may not be calling the plays from the sideline for the Indianapolis Colts anymore, but he still holds a special place in the heart of the organization, especially in the eyes of owner Jim Irsay.
Pagano, who is now the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, and the Colts hosted the annual ‘Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala’ at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Thursday night continuing the fundraiser for cancer research.
The gala raised a total over $1.8 million, which was reached partly due to the fact that Irsay himself donated $1 million for cancer research at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.
Pagano, who was the Colts head coach from 2012-17, wasn’t surprised by the generosity of his former boss.
“I’m not surprised, because I know the man that he is,” Pagano said at the event via WTHR. “He has a heart of gold and I’m just so, so grateful.”
The fundraiser was jumpstarted in 2013, the year after Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia during his first season as the Colts head coach. Since its beginning, the Chuckstrong event has raised over $7.3 million.
