Tony Dungy to Retire: A Good One Hangs up the Clipboard

by River City Rage on Jan 12, 2009 1:12 PM EST in News Comment 18 comments

Here's to a happy retirement!

Tony Dungy Retires!

The notoriously positive head coach of the Indianapolis Colts will step down today after one of the most remarkable careers in NFL history. He is, without a doubt, a Hall of Fan worthy coach with his legacy of turning around two franchises, winning two Super Bowls (Tampa in 2002 is Tony's trophy, whether he was there or not), and creating an atmosphere where winning and being positive was king. There was never any drama in a Dungy coached team, just winning.

Now, I'll be honest, I've disagreed with much of Dungy's off the field agenda. I get very uncomfortable when head coaches get involved in the political sphere, especially when it comes to divisive issues. Also, speaking frankly, I'll breathe a little easier knowing that the Jaguars path through the AFC South will be without one of the best coaches ever on the opposing sideline twice a season. But you won't see me dancing with glee, not just yet.

Tony Dungy was important to the NFL because he served as the Anti-Belichick. He was the composed, honest, straight-forward and respecting leader of a premiere franchise. He never turned a cold-shoulder to any coaches or offered lame handshakes, no you get the feeling from Dungy that when he told opposing teams "good game", he meant it. The NFL is a worse today for his loss.

The Jacksonville Jaguars know Tony well, it won't be the same to see the Colts without him on the sideline. I know that there are some who might not look so kindly on his career, for today let's keep those comments to ourselves. Visit our friends at Stampede Blue and Buc'em for more on the career of Tony Dungy.

0 recs | Comment 18 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

One of the greatest men in the NFL

The Colts may win again, but they will never be the same.

I hope he coaches again some day. Maybe a return to Tampa Bay.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Jan 12, 2009 1:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Doubt it

He seemed content to ride off, at least for a few seasons.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 12, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

eh

he’s a great coach. that’s for certain. i don’t think he’s that great of a man though. he’s a little narrow sighted for my taste.

by abeaugh on Jan 12, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A very classy and well written piece

Great work River City Rage. I think you perfectly summarized the feelings of the large majority of Jaguar fans.

by SoCalStites on Jan 12, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 12, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks also...

…for pointing out that Dungy is not entirely without controversy, which is all I will say on that topic. It will certainly be different seeing another face on the Colts’ sideline.

by Cowtown on Jan 12, 2009 4:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He will be missed

he was an excellent coach, I’m really looking forward how the Colts will perform without him.
Also, congratulation to the article, really a god pice!

by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 12, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Colts fans admire your classyness

even if we think different of you coach than ours……………..We look forward to the cross blogging with you guys next year-enjoy the off season and the draft!

by colts9318rock on Jan 12, 2009 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I completely disagree that 2002 was Dungy's trophy

In college that is something you can say, that a coach won with another’s recruits. In college there is no GM; there is only the head coach.

The fact that Tony Dungy couldn’t win a Super Bowl in Tampa and then Gruden came right in and won one with the same players is not a positive at all for Dungy. I see that as getting outcoached by your successor. And in light of Dungy’s career losing postseason record (9-10), I start to see the 2002 Bucs as a negative for Dungy.

That being said, he did run a very good organization and was a very good coach. But if all it takes is one Super Bowl victory to be a Hall of Fame coach, you might as well put Brian Billick in too. Heck, his postseason record is even better (.625 vs .474).

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 12, 2009 10:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And to clarify

Brian Billick is not a Hall of Fame coach. Clearly.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 12, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was going to refrain as I seem to be the lightning rod

But I think you brought up a lot of good points. He was a great regular season coach, but come playoff times, there was a reason the Bucs basicly sold their souls for a while to the Raiders to get Gruden.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 12, 2009 10:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great article Chris...

However, I think you broke your own rule on personal views in relation to a person’s politics or religious views. I personally have no qualms about what the man believes pesonally because they are his views which he is entitled to. Doesn’t mean I subscribe to them, but as you have said before… this is a football related site. For you to bring it up, and for others to comment about it shows hypocrisy on your part.

Now , before anyone crucifies me.. these kinds of comments lead to partisan opinions about the subject that I was told was not allowed on here. So, please, let’s just stick to what we know about the man when it comes to football. That’s what should be celebrated here.

by JagsCub on Jan 13, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Point/Counterpoint

1. Yup, you’re right, I broke my own rule. I will note, in my own defense, that my article lambasting Dungy for his personal views was composed a long, long time ago back when nobody actually read this site, so allow me a little slack.

2. My primary problem with Tony Dungy’s politics has less to do with what he believes in and more to do with using his position as a head coach to have a bully pulpit in which to express those views. Just as I see Big Cat Country as a non-political site, head coaches should remain in a similar position. When Tony chose to use his position to push an agenda, it became newsworthy.

While we can disagree on the politics, discussing the politics, or the “rules” of BCC, Dungy’s views were brought into the public sphere and became an issue. I think a discussion on the role of the head coach as a leader on and off the sideline is a legitimate issue. If Jack Del Rio were to become an advocate for a cause, whether I agreed with it or not, and did so publicly, I’d criticize him in much the same way.

-Chris

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jan 13, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah JagsCub

The point that was being raised was that Dungy was using his position as head coach to speak out on a controversial issue. Just as I can’t stand all the actors who do stuff like “Go Green.” Dungy had every right to believe what he believes, and if he wanted to speak out as another member of society, go for it. But when it goes from Tony Dungy to “Tony Dungy, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts” it became fair game.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Jan 13, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't deny that it became fair game.

My point in all of this, is that this is a political subject, which has no place on this great website. I accept Chris’s idea that this is a great point to discuss should a head coach leading a popular franchise use his postion to further a cause. But, to take a swipe at someone because you don’t share the same beliefs crossed the line. That’s all I was saying, and Chris agreed.

by JagsCub on Jan 13, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Slack granted. No defense needed.

Actually, I was only talking of the current article posted here. I didn’t know you wrote the one previous until after I posted my comment.

I agree also that a coach should not use his position as a bully pulpit, but this is something that he believed in long before he was successful as a Superbowl winning coach, and you can’t separate the coach from the man’s from personal beliefs. Also, who’s to say that he was using his positon to advance an agenda. Only outsiders like us can view it as such, but I don’t think that is the case at all. Everything that he has done in his career has been based on what his personal beliefs are. If anyone reading this who hasn’t read his book wouldn’t know this, but the principles he lives his life by are the same prinicples he has incorporated into job as a head coach.

I just have a hard time accepting criticism of a person because he is sharing his own beliefs on his own time. That would go for anyone, as far as I’m concerned. He was not there in an official capacity of the Colts organization.

by JagsCub on Jan 13, 2009 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not true

while he wasn’t there with the colts organization’s blessing, he was there as tony dungy, head coach. he was using his title, name recognition, and accomplishments to further a political view that i find repulsive. i refuse to ignore that while discussing him.

by abeaugh on Jan 14, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That makes no sense at all.

So, what you are saying is that anyone who is an employee has no right to express their beliefs not only on the clock, but off the clock as well? That’s ridiculous. As a small business owner, I can’t tell my employees what they can and can’t do off the clock because what they might say could be attributed to me. Look, No one starts jumping up and down when other celebs voice their opinions in the public spectrrum. However, because he has taken a position publically, on a hot topic, ON HIS OWN TIME I might add… then he is wrong?! Right?

You know I used to think that being open minded about things was what it meant…OPEN MINDED! However, when it comes to beliefs that differ from yours, who has become closed minded? So, he has a persective that is different. SO WHAT! He can do what he wants on his own time! Regardless of who he is. This is still a free country the last I checked. That is his right to do so . Coach or not.

by JagsCub on Jan 14, 2009 5:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs