Irsay on Pagano's contract: It's not 'Super Bowl or bust'

The Indianapolis Colts gathered at team headquarters Friday night to support the movement that's come to be known as ChuckStrong.

And while namesake Chuck Pagano, a cancer survivor, was mingling with VIPs, raising millions for cancer research, team owner Jim Irsay came to support his coach's charity gala.

Then he offered something else: A big vote of confidence for Pagano, whose contract expires after the coming season.

Irsay said he is satisfied with the job Pagano has done and that the sides' inability to come to terms on a contract extension should not be misconstrued.

"These things are ongoing a lot of times behind the scenes," Irsay said. "We're working on contracts, whether it's management, coaches, players. We had discussions and it doesn't mean that they won't continue. It's not a Super Bowl-or-bust season or anything like that."

Pagano is in the final year of a four-year deal, meaning he could enter the fall without contractual security.

Irsay seemed unconcerned.

"We were proud of our (2014) season and I really feel positive about Chuck and what he's done for us," Irsay said. "There's no question that he's accomplished a lot since he's been here. And we're here tonight for this gala because he had that illness (leukemia) in 2012. Really, it's only been two years, kind of, that he's been coaching. So, he's done a very good job and nothing rules out that we couldn't have an extension done before the season. And if not, we can still, I'm sure, work things out."

The sides had conversations but could not come to terms, Irsay said.

"There were some efforts to talk about it. We just didn't get there," he said. "Sometimes that happens. If you go back to the old days, there were no agents involved, either. Now general managers and coaches sometimes have agents. In fact, oftentimes … We're real positive about Chuck Pagano and the things that he's done. It's not a sign of anything extremely negative. We just haven't gotten anything done in terms of a long-term contract."

Irsay's comments were the first since Pagano's contract status was revealed several weeks ago.

His presence and involvement with Friday's event, which has raised $2 million in the past two years, is a result of the bond Pagano and Irsay developed during the coach's battle with cancer in 2012. Irsay talked at length about his personal experience with leukemia, talking of a football-playing friend who died at 18 in 1977 after a brief battle with the disease.

"I really got a first-hand experience to see what that was like," Irsay said. "So we're just so happy to see Chuck doing so well. It seems like almost a long time ago that we went through that. He's doing well and this gala helps out so many people. It's about finding a cure."

Pagano has developed a great passion for the cause, having confronted the disease. Now, he wants to help those who helped him.

"The doctors, the scientists, researchers, that's who we're honoring tonight," he said. "They're selfless, selfless people. They spend their entire lives trying to find cures for cancer. That's what this event is all about, raising money for cancer research. Our goal is hopefully to find a cure for all blood cancers.

"Just maybe we see that happen in our lifetimes."

Follow Star reporter Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.