Chuck Pagano to address Indianapolis Colts on Monday

• Colts coach Chuck Pagano is expected to address his team at 10 a.m. on Monday.
• Pagano spent the last three months battling leukemia.
• Pagano is expected to be on the sideline for the Colts' finale vs. the Texans.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A 91-day countdown should reach a buoyant conclusion this morning at the Indianapolis Colts' Northwestside complex. Head coach Chuck Pagano is expected to be back in the house.

After a three-month illness spent battling life-threatening leukemia, Pagano is scheduled to address his team at Monday morning at 10, Colts interim coach Bruce Arians said.

"It's hard to imagine what it will be like," guard Joe Reitz said Sunday after the Colts beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 to clinch a playoff spot. "When everything happened to Chuck, B.A.'s message all along was, 'Let's extend the season for Chuck.

"That's what we did today. You can't ask for a better Christmas present than to go on the road, get a victory, get ourselves in the dance."

The Colts released a media schedule for Monday that listed a 12:15 p.m. news conference followed by just two words: "Coach Available."

Arians said Pagano will resume his head coaching duties full bore Monday. Pagano will be on the sideline for the Colts final regular-season game against Houston on Sunday and on into the postseason.

A Sept. 26 checkup resulted in a diagnosis leukemia for which Pagano began treatment that day at IU Health Simon Cancer Center. He completed the last of three rounds of chemotherapy Dec. 4. He has been in remission since Nov. 5 and his oncologist, Dr. Larry Cripe, described him Friday as "99 percent recovered."

This week has been targeted for his return throughout treatment.

Pagano has made several visits to the complex and attended three games, sitting in the owner's suite with Jim Irsay. Pagano has been in constant contact with his coaches and players, by phone, email and texting, but Monday is expected to be a the real and lasting reunion.

From his Jan. 25 hiring, Pagano stressed family, trust, loyalty and respect. The Colts have built a 10-5 season on that foundation and this morning they get to share it with him.

"We've been winning all these games for us," Colts safety Antoine Bethea said, "but most definitely for Chuck as well."

Richards writes for The Indianapolis Star.