Pagano makes emotional return to locker room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Colts locker room got a very special visitor Sunday afternoon: head coach Chuck Pagano.

He spoke with the team both before and after the game, giving an inspirational speech that moved some to tears.

“You decided consciously as a team, as a family, to live in a vision, and that's why you bring things home like you brought home today," Pagano told the team following their win over the Dolphins. "That's why you're already champions and well on your way."

He added that he intends to dance at two more of his daughters’ weddings and hoist the Lombardi Trophy a couple of times.

VIDEO | View video of Coach Pagano's post game speech to the team

Rookie tight end Dwayne Allen told us there were a lot of tears in the locker room.

“I’ve never been in an environment where I saw so many grown men crying. And it was tears of joy and of pride.”

Allen added that Pagano’s message was all about fighting and carrying out the vision he’s laid out since the beginning.

“He took us back to the first night, and how we were picked last and how he knew what type of men he had in this room,” said Allen. “He knew we could be something special, do something special with this team this year.”

“Our goal is to make sure we make the playoffs because he’s got a great chance to be back at the end of December,” added interim head coach Bruce Arians. “We need to make sure we extend this season so he can e back on the sidelines with us, healthy. That’s our goal.”

Pagano starts his second round of chemotherapy at the hospital on Monday.