Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Rivera surprised by cutouts of family at FedEx field amid cancer battle

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 10/4/20

After a rough week battling cancer, Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera had a special surprise waiting for him on Sunday at FedEx Field.

Rivera's wife, Stephanie, and the team placed 450 cardboard cutouts of his family and friends in the stands for Washington's Week 4 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Wonderful moment here at FedEx Field as Ron Rivera was surprised by wife Stephanie & Washington Football Team with 450 cutouts of family/friends supporting his cancer battle. This is WAS Crucial Catch game. Players wearing Rivera Sfront shirts. #BALvsWAS
(I meant Steve Smith Sr.) pic.twitter.com/ixbmvgi4rF
— Kim Jones (@KimJonesSports) October 4, 2020

The cutouts also include those of NFL personnel, coaches and players. Luke Kuechly, Greg Olsen and Steve Smith Sr., all players Rivera coached while with the Carolina Panthers, were seen in cutout form.

Before the start of Sunday's game, players were seen wearing "Rivera Strong" t-shirts and more than $30,000 had been donated to cancer research and awareness as a part of the Crucial Catch game.

Rivera currently is being treated for squamous cell cancer in his lymph nodes. He announced the diagnosis in August and recently made note of how expensive it is to treat the disease. Seeing how much his health care costs makes Rivera wish every American was covered in the same way he is.

Millions of Americans aren't covered, and many more have lost coverage due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With a diagnosis like Rivera's, many Americans would be financially unable to afford the cost of treatment.

More must-reads: