INDIANAPOLIS – Chuck Pagano will likely learn his fate with the Colts on Monday morning at a meeting with Owner Jim Irsay.
That was the extent Pagano knew about his 2016 status on Sunday afternoon, after he led the Colts to their eighth victory of the season.
Pagano will not coach in the postseason for the first time in his four seasons in Indianapolis.
Just like he said prior to Sunday's regular season finale, Pagano spoke on Sunday afternoon like a man who wants to be coaching the Colts again next fall.
"I love this job. I love Indianapolis. I love this community. I love the fans," Pagano said following the Colts 30-24 victory over the Titans.
"Thinking back to 2012, they didn't even know me and the way they embraced me and my family and helped me through that journey, that's Hoosier hospitality. This is a great place and me and my wife are very grateful and we've had a great four years here."
Like he has done throughout his tenure in Indianapolis, Pagano wanted Sunday to be about the players.
The Colts were once again thrown a nasty curveball in Week 17 with injuries to Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst.
They fought that pitch off Sunday to salvage a .500 season and run their record to 6-3 on the season with backup quarterbacks.
Pagano pointed to that resolve several times in the aftermath of Sunday's win.
"I think everybody saw a glimpse of what could be the vision we all had (in the win over Denver) and where this team could go," Pagano said. "Then you lose Andrew (Luck) and at that point I've seen a lot of teams unravel.
"Again, it's a testament to the character and the resiliency and the grit of this group, the coaches. What a phenomenal job. I'm just really happy for these coaches and players. Mostly these players, all the blood, sweat and tears goes into this deal and you don't reach your ultimate goal but you find a way to pick yourself up time and time again off the carpet and keep fighting and keep plugging away and finding ways to win football games and find a way to finish on a great note, season, on a winning note and get to [.500]."
Take one look inside the Colts locker room on Sunday and the players are certainly behind their head coach.
Robert Mathis stepped into the middle of the locker room on Sunday afternoon and wanted to send a game ball back to the man who's been tossing them out for the past four seasons.
"(You) gave us everything you got and then some," Mathis said to Pagano.
"You taught us about love, friendship, brotherhood, fatherhood. We love you and a game ball is going to you."
Clapping ensued Mathis' embrace of the man they adore.
In case people needed visual evidence for why players were firing off post-game tweets in support of their head coach, Pagano showed why.
"I love every single one of you guys, and there's nothing, nothing, I would not do for one person in this locker room right now," Pagano said looking into the eyes of his team.
"And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for fighting. For being the men that you are."
