by JM Van Horn

Created on: January 14, 2009   Last Updated: November 08, 2010

Earlier today, the NFL lost one of the great ambassadors for the game of football. Indianapolis head coach, Tony Dungy, decided to retire after spending 31 years of his life as a player and a coach in the NFL.

Back in 1980, Tony Dungy began his coaching career at the University
of Minnesota as their defensive backs coach. One year later, the Steelers and head coach Chuck Noll, brought Dungy into the ranks for the NFL as an assistant coach. After spending his time under other coaching legends like Dennis Green and Marty Schottenheimer, Dungy earned his first head coaching position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

During his time in Tampa, Dungy complied a 54 42 record with the Bucs as he helped develop his own version of the Cover 2 defense that became known throughout the league as the Tampa 2. Though the concept was not new to the league, it was the personnel that he used to employ that made his defense a success. But even with the success, Dungy could not escape the stigma of not being able to win the big game. As a result, Tampa Bay released Dungy from his contract so they could find another head coach. There were those in Tampa who felt vindicated when the following year the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl under head coach Jon Gruden.

It did not take Dungy long to find another NFL coaching position and soon he found himself as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Dungy continued to find success in the NFL as he led the Colts to an 85 28 record during his 7 year stint. Dungy's most successful season in the NFL came in 2006 when he was able to hold the Lombardi Trophy when the Colts secured a victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Not only did this win help quiet the Dungy critics, but it became the first time an African American led his team not just to the Super Bowl, but to a win as well.

Dungy's coaching career has been one of the quietest success stories in some time. Not only did he compile a .668 winning percentage during the 13 years, he managed to reach 10 straight post seasons while coaching the Bucs and Colts. Though he may not own numerous records as a head coach, Dungy will go down in the history of the NFL as one of the most influential persons every to walk the sideline. But what was it about Dungy that made him a legend among the greats in the history of the NFL.

You can see Dungy's philosophy imprinted on those coaches who worked for him, like the Steelers Mike Tomlin and the Bears Lovie Smith. He always stressed that coaches were meant to be teachers to the players and help them not only to be better players but taught them to respect the game.
Off the field Dungy's beliefs and work ethics translated into strong community ties with both cities where he coached. Dungy spent his free time to help those in need, like starting the Mentor for Life program in Tampa Bay. It was these efforts that helped make Dungy one of the most respected and well liked coaches in the NFL.

We live in a day and age where self serving or negative publicity reigns supreme in the NFL, especially when it comes to fans and the media. Everyone is looking out for themselves and they do not care nor try to understand how their actions will affect others. Though his efforts may have not received the equal amount of attention, like a player doing a gaudy celebratory touchdown dance, Dungy never waived from his convictions. It is disheartening to have to say goodbye to Tony Dungy, the head coach, it is good to know that Dungy's imprint will still remain on those lives he has touched by simply being the man he has always been.

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