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Last updated on Monday, January 1, 2018
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - The Chuck Pagano era is over in Indianapolis as the Colts fired their head coach following their 22-13 victory over the Houston Texans.
Pagano was the Colts head coach for the past six seasons with no playoff appearances in the last three.
"Chuck Pagano provided Colts fans with many exciting wins and memories as head coach of the Colts," owner Jim Irsay said in a press release. "Chuck's first season was one of the more inspirational stories in NFL history as he courageously battled and overcame leukemia. As a result, the ChuckStrong Foundation has raised millions in cancer research," the press release continued.
Under Pagano the Colts accumulated a 56-46 overall record (including the postseason) since 2012 and he led the team to three consecutive 11-5 seasons, including a trip to the AFC Championship game in 2014.
Pagano had two years left on his contract and GM Chris Ballard will now be tasked with hiring his first head coach since taking over the general manager position.
Pagano made the following statement during his final post-game press conference before he was let go as the Colts' head coach:
"I'm very grateful to Jim Irsay and very grateful to the Irsay family. His unwavering commitment is second to none to football. He's gave us everything that we needed. Gave me everything that I needed over the last six years to be successful. Nobody has more passion and love for the game than Jim Irsay. I'm very grateful for the opportunity that he gave me.
"Chris Ballard is one of the finest men I've ever worked with. He's a great football mind. He was unbelievable. He was with us through thick and thin and supported us. He's a great man; he's a great person. I've had a great year working with him. He's unbelievable.
"These players and coaches, like I talked about, I could go on and on and on. It would have been real easy for these guys to throw in the towel. They never did. They never quit. It's my football family in there - those players and coaches.
"I've always been about relationships. It's always been about love with me. It's always been about connection. The price of love, sometimes you have to say goodbye. So again, I don't know what tomorrow brings, but I know I'm grateful for every one of them and challenged them to finish. What they went out and did today, to finish this game and to win this football game, I'm forever grateful to every man and all the players that I've had the opportunity to coach past and present.
"And then this community, the fans, they're unbelievable. All that we've been through, they brought me through the fire back in 2012.
"I got great love and respect for our fans and for this community and what they've done for me and my family. I'm in debt of gratitude. We'll always be Hoosiers no matter what happens.
"Again, I don't know tomorrow brings or the next hour, I just know that right now I've got a lot of joy in my heart just knowing how these guys finished. They've got the hearts of lions. The staff and the players and this organization, again, it's been a blessing."
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