He continues to assist Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club in Indianapolis. Endorsements and Books. Dungy published his first book, Quiet Strength , in 2007. Front row: Jaela, Jalen, Juewel, Jaden. Dungy worked with Basket of Hope and Riley Hospital for Children to implement the Super Baskets of Hope project where 7,000 baskets and totes were delivered to the 32 NFL cities and participating hospitals during the weeks surrounding Super Bowl XLVI. During the 2008 season, the Colts won 12 regular season games, including their last nine straight, clinching a wildcard berth, but were upset 23–17 in overtime by the San Diego Chargers in the wildcard round of the 2008–09 NFL playoffs. With success, he also makes a hefty salary from his coaching career. [59] Quiet Strength was on the New York Times Best Seller List for 32 weeks, including 27 in the top 10 for hardcover nonfiction. [14], During his early tenure in Indianapolis, Dungy struggled to fix the Colts' defense and had mixed results in the postseason. He became the first black head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. The second game, a home matchup, was less competitive and ended with Indianapolis winning 33–14. Dungy signed a three-year contract extension in October 2005[15] for US$5 million per year. He was also the first coach in NFL history to get wins against all 32 teams. [14] In both cases, most of the offensive planning has been handled by his offensive coordinators. Dungy was reunited with Tom Moore, who was retained as offensive coordinator. When asked why he wrote Quiet Strength, Dungy said, He was the first boy born into a family of six, the first black head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, and the first NFL coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams. Dungy also became the sixth man to play in a Super Bowl and be the head coach of a Super Bowl team. In 1973, Dungy enrolled at the University of Minnesota on a full football scholarship and took the helm as the team's starting quarterback. [18] By a matter of only a few hours, Dungy became the second black coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl. Though Dungy was fired the prior season and replaced with Jon Gruden, Dungy has been credited for constructing the team. His contributions have had a great effect on the diversity of the league and helped lead to the institution of the Rooney Rule by Steelers owner Dan Rooney, requiring teams to interview minority coaches. While the Cover 2 defense was not a new concept, Dungy contributed to its greater use by systemizing it into an every-down defense. While in Tampa Bay, Dungy worked as a public speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action. Jamie’s death changed them, but their prayer is that God will continue using their heartbreaking loss for His good and glory. [75], American football coach and former player, Tony Dungy—championships, awards, and honors, Minnesota Golden Gophers starting quarterbacks, President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, National Football League Players' Association, List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins, "Big Ten Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Big Ten Medal of Honor", "Steelers lose everything but shirts in Houston", "Colts' coach Dungy preaches what he practices", "Labriola on Rod Rust's impact on the Steelers", Tony Dungy credits Chuck Noll with his defensive philosophy, "Tony Dungy Treated Players the Way He Wanted People to Treat Him", "Tony Dungy leaves second Super Bowl-caliber team behind", "Dungy leaves open possibility of retiring", "Belichick stands Pat: signs back long tenure", "How long will Tony Dungy walk the sideline? [21], Dungy is mentioned in the book Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, in chapter 3: "The Golden Rule of Habit Change."[22][23]. Here's what you should know about her. He is a philanthropist and has been actively involved in community service. 2[70] and stayed on the top 10 for 5 weeks on the hardcover advice section of the New York Times Best Seller list.[71]. Widely expected to be a Super Bowl contender, the Colts won their first 13 games, prompting much speculation about the possibility of the Colts becoming the NFL's first team to finish the season undefeated since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. For a franchise that had long been the league's doormat, Dungy, with his calm demeanor and ability to connect with players, was a breath of fresh air, bringing both respectability and victories to a team sorely lacking in both areas. On November 1, 2010, the Colts added Tony Dungy's name to the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor, located on the middle balcony on the east side of Lucas Oil Stadium. He was the third black head coach to win a pro football championship in North America, behind Darren Arbet of the San Jose Sabercats (Arena Football League) who won ArenaBowl XVI in 2002 and Pinball Clemons of the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League) who won the 92nd Grey Cup in 2004. His work under Noll put Dungy in the Sid Gillman coaching tree. Dungy established another NFL first by becoming the first head coach to lead his teams to the playoffs for ten … [50] Dungy also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the university. He also supports the Black Coaches Association National Convention and Indiana Black Expo.[20]. [42], On February 27, 2008, Indiana Wesleyan University honored Dungy in a ceremony where he was inducted into IWU's Society of World Changers. But Dungy gives the credit for their huge family to wife, Lauren. [20] He was also the youngest assistant coach at age 25[20] and the youngest coordinator at age 28[20] in NFL history. "[38], In March 2009 President Barack Obama invited Dungy to join the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In December 2005, tragedy struck the Dungy family when one of their sons, James, was found dead at his Tampa area apartment. On December 23, 2007, with a win over the Houston Texans, Dungy won his 72nd game as Colts head coach, passing Don Shula to become the coach with most wins in franchise history. He installed his "Tampa 2" defense immediately and continued to retool the Colts' defense to his liking during his tenure. James Dungy’s girlfrie… Tony Spilotro is best known as a ruthless Chicago mob representative in Las Vegas from the 1970s to the '80s. In 2011, Dungy and his wife authored a children's book, You Can Be a Friend, which teaches children the importance of being a good friend. Tony Dungy enters his sixth season as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. In Indianapolis, Dungy helped launch the Basket of Hope program at the Riley Hospital for Children. He led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, making him the first black head coach to win the Super Bowl.[1]. [27] Dungy said that he inherited most of the coaching philosophies from Noll and he is proud to be a protégé of Noll.[28]. Shortly afterward, the three-year veteran announced his retirement. He is also the national spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad and also devoted himself to lobbying for preventative heart screenings for children through the SafeBeat Initiative. Beginning his coaching career in 1980, Dungy went on to serve as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later the Indianapolis Colts. In 1984, Pittsburgh made him the league's youngest defensive coordinator. "[58] On January 10, 2008, Quiet Strength reached 1 million copies in print. He is presently aged 63 years old and is happily married to wifeLauren Harris. In addition, Dungy, a committed Christian, has remained active in a number of charitable causes, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Prison Crusade Ministry. Once he heard these words, he knew that he and his wife were being called to adopt. He belongs to American nationality and his ethnicity is white. Dungy's memoir, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, was released on July 10, 2007 and reached No. Dungy went unselected in the 1977 NFL Draft and was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League as a safety. But the young coach wasn't out of work for long. D... ungy and his wife Lauren are longtime foster/adoptive parents who’ve adopted eight children over the past 35 years. The death was later ruled a suicide. On January 21, 2008, Dungy announced that he would return at least for the 2008 season.[19]. Dungy's teams became perennial postseason contenders under his leadership, missing playoffs only twice in Tampa Bay. The couple got married in 1982, and together are parents to a staggering 10 children, seven of whom were adopted. He also supported other charitable programs in the area such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, the Prison Crusade Ministry, foster parenting organizations, and Family First. [7] Throughout his career, he has remained involved with community service organizations. Despite his college career, no NFL team believed that Dungy's arm would translate well in the pros. Tony Dungy met his wife Lauren Harris Dungy through the local church, having reportedly been set up by their pastor. Certainly, when you go into football coaching, you’re not expecting to get presidential appointments to anything. Where's my security? Since stepping down as head coach of the Colts, Dungy has worked as an analyst for NBC's "Football Night in America." We strive for accuracy and fairness. Former professional football quarterback Peyton Manning set numerous records en route to winning five NFL MVP awards and two Super Bowls. And, what's my legacy? [43][44][45] Following a backlash, Dungy clarified his remarks, saying that he gave an "honest answer" to a question and that his concern would be with media coverage over Sam if he had been the player's coach. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady became the first player in NFL history to win seven Super Bowl championships. The book is aimed specifically at men, including those who may not otherwise be interested in spiritual matters.[61]. In 1977, he was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor, recognizing one student athlete from the graduating class of each Big Ten member school, for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout their college career.[4]. Susan Merrill’s Blog. The comment drew criticism from some who viewed it as homophobic. 7[73] and stayed on the top 10 for 1 week on the children's picture books section of The New York Times Best Seller list. He joins Dan Reeves, Sam Wyche, Mike Ditka, Forrest Gregg and Tom Flores. In the last game played at Tampa Stadium, the Bucs defeated the Detroit Lions for only their second playoff win in franchise history. [51][52], On August 5, 2009, Dungy spoke at the 53rd General Council of the Assemblies of God. Dungy and his wife, Lauren, are the parents of seven children. Tony Dungy is a former professional football player and coach who became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl. Tony was born as the son of mother Cleomae Dungy and father Wilbur Dungy. "We decided to do what we could to try and share a little bit about the need." [30]. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Since retiring, Dungy has served as an analyst on NBC's Football Night in America. CARMEL — Tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren, have been writing together for a long time. Dungy twice faced his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in 2003 and 2007, winning both games. [69], On August 3, 2010 Dungy released a new book entitled The Mentor Leader, which debuted at No. Dungy installed his version of the Cover 2 defense with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin with a few new wrinkles. In 1997, the Buccaneers started 5–0, their best start since 1979. Tony Dungy. After Michael Sam, an openly gay player, was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft, Dungy said he would not have drafted Sam, saying, "Not because I don't believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn't want to deal with all of it." [46][47] Dungy has also expressed opposition to same-sex marriage.[48]. Tony Dungy is the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams and became the youngest coordinator at the age of 28 in NFL history. [38] The 25-member council represents leaders from government, business, entertainment, athletics and non-profit organizations committed to growing the spirit of service and civic participation. Smith said, "We talked about how to do it, being a teacher instead of screaming and yelling, all that stuff." For Dungy, it was a no brainer. Tony Dungy with his wife, L auren Harris Moving on, Tony and his wife are a parent of seven children; two daughters (Tiara and Jade) and five sons. It also made him just the third person in NFL history to win a title as a player and as a head coach. Lauren (Harris) Dungy – Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy’s wife Meet educational specialist Lauren Dungy, the wife of over three decades of former defensive back turned coach, Tony Dungy. He is also known as actress Jamie Lee Curtis's dad. Lauren Dungy. Sadly, one of his sons committed suicide in 2005 due to an unknown reason. Dungy was fired on January 14, 2002 due to the club's repeated losses in the playoffs. Tony Dungy was born Anthony Kevin Dungy on October 6, 1955, to Wilbur Dungy and Cleomae Dungy in Jackson, Michigan. On January 22, 2019 Dungy released a new book entitled The Soul of a Team. [10][11][12], On January 22, 2002, Dungy was hired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts,[13] a team that at the time was very potent offensively, but very weak defensively. While at Minnesota, Dungy's defense was ranked first in the NFL. He was brutally beaten and murdered by other mobsters in 1986. https://www.biography.com/athlete/tony-dungy. Dungy is the most recent NFL player to intercept a pass and throw an interception in the same game. He earned his first head coaching position in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and over the next 13 seasons, that included seven years with the Indianapolis Colts, he racked up 148 total victories. After receiving the call from President Bush, Dungy remarked "It was something that was really hard to believe. Their thirteenth win guaranteed the Colts home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Many Bucs fans believe that this was where the long-beleaguered franchise finally turned the corner. The Dungys, who have nine children, are heavily involved in church. The book, released on February 17, 2009 with Tyndale House Publishers, particularly focuses on what it means to be a man of significance in a culture that is offering young men few positive role models. They guide instead of goad, and Lovie Smith found that perhaps the most instructive thing of all. Anthony Kevin Dungy was born October 6, 1955, in Jackson, Michigan. Tony has two sisters and a brother named, Sherrilyn Sims, Lauren Dungy-Poythre… Dungy and his wife, Lauren, are the parents of seven children. [citation needed], Since retirement, Dungy has become an informal mentor to the formerly suspended NFL player Michael Vick, counseling him during his incarceration and, with the help of Donovan McNabb, convincing Eagles owner Jeff Lurie and head coach Andy Reid to consider signing him to the team's roster. When asked if Dungy would consider writing a follow-up to Quiet Strength, Dungy said, Dungy published a 24-page children's picture book called You Can Do It with Little Simon Inspirations, a division of Simon & Schuster on July 8, 2008, reached No. [citation needed]. Some of Dungy’s notable achievements include being the first black head coach to win the Super Bowl. This loss made the Colts the first team to ever start a season 13–0 and not reach the Super Bowl. The Vince Lombardi trophy finally came Dungy's way on February 4, 2007, when the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, 29-17, in Miami. The following year, the Steelers traded Dungy to the San Francisco 49ers. The first game, held in Tampa Bay, saw the Colts rally from a 35–14 deficit late in the fourth quarter to win 38–35 in overtime. [16][17], The Colts focused on defensive improvements during the 2005 offseason, signing five-year defensive tackle Corey Simon. Born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, Dungy's parents were Wilbur Dungy (1926–2004), a science professor at Jackson College, and Cleomae Dungy (1920–2002), who taught Shakespeare at Jackson High School. On defense, Dungy used a stifling "Cover 2" style zone defense, which usually was based around a formation of 4 linemen, 3 linebackers, and 4 defensive backs. Cam Cameron, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, highly recommended the book by buying 1,000 books to give away to football coaches at his preseason coaching clinic in July 2007 in South Florida,[36] and said: In August 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Dungy a member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. Jim Caldwell, an assistant under Dungy in Indianapolis, was promoted to head coach in 2009, and coached the Colts for three seasons. Dungy thus became the first coach in Bucs history to leave the team with a winning record. Dungy has one Super Bowl title as a player, as he was a member of the Steelers when they won Super Bowl XIII over the Dallas Cowboys in January 1979. Lauren and her husband, Tony, have been married for 31 … They lost the next game to the defending champion Green Bay Packers. After playing college ball for the University of Minnesota, Dungy played three seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers. On January 12, 2009, Jim Caldwell, who'd been a long-time Colts assistant, was chosen as the new head coach for the Indianapolis Colts after being named Dungy's eventual successor a year earlier. It turned out to be the only losing season Dungy would suffer as a head coach. As the mother of eight children and the wife of Retired Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts and NBC Analyst, Tony Dungy, Lauren Dungy has created her own playbook– parenting while juggling it all.Lauren prays, plans, and depends on her faith and friends to … Following his NFL experience as a player, Dungy was invited to become an assistant coach for his alma mater, the University of Minnesota in 1980. From 'Some Like It Hot' to 'The Defiant Ones,' Tony Curtis was the reigning Hollywood heartthrob of the 1950s. 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