In typical understated Dungy fashion, he presented his stories with a warmth, sincerity and level of articulation that is rare among football coaches. Many youth and high school coaches came out to hear his wisdom and guidance.
Coach has always been kind on the many occasions that I have met him and is easily able to recall the prior encounters at the Pro Football Hall of Fame or Super Bowl Radio Row.
As the presentation started only a few miles from the Chicago Bears Headquarters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, the opening question was easy to guess: “Why did you kick the ball to Devin Hester to open Super Bowl XLI in Miami?” For those that do not recall the outcome, Hester returned the kick 92 yards for a touchdown to open the game. Coach told the story of the Colts’ preparation for the Super Bowl. He noted that the entire game plan was premised on keeping the ball out of Hester’s hands. Noting the Bears mediocre offense, Dungy spoke about the biggest concern being keeping the ball away from Hester. For two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl (one week in Indianapolis and one week in Miami), the Colts practiced various strategies with apparent success. On the Friday before the Super Bowl, the team chaplain told the team the story of David and Goliath. As Dungy pondered the meaning of the story, he interpreted the chaplain’s message to mean that you cannot fear your opponent. That you needed to step up and smack the opponent in the mouth and that would result in the opponent backing away.
So after two weeks of intensive practice with a different strategy, Coach ordered Adam Vinatieri to kick the ball to Hester leading to the fateful return. 12 seconds later with Devin in the end zone celebrating with his Bear teammates, Dungy was getting a lot of glaring looks from his players. Not being one to back down, Dungy reminded his team that it was a long game and pointed to the BCS Championship Game a few weeks earlier where Ohio State’s Ted Ginn returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown before the Florida Gators pummeled the Buckeyes. Coach didn’t realize that return may have foreshadowed the outcome of this game as well and he was relieved that his blunder did not cost the team the Super Bowl title.
The Steelers were active in the community and players were requested to make appearances on a rotating basis. Dungy was called at the last minute to substitute for a teammate at a Church appearance. After hearing his story and presentation, the Minister told Dungy that he had a young woman in the congregation who would be perfect for him. Leery of what might be wrong with her, Tony declined the offer. The young woman had similar misgivings about what might be wrong with a Steelers player that did not have a girlfriend. After weeks of pushing, they finally went out and Lauren and Tony got engaged after only three months and married just four months after that. They have now been married for 41 years.
Tony and Lauren have 12 children. Tony described the two waves, three of their own children with 9 adopted children. The adoption process began when they had visited a woman who oversaw placing babies for mothers who were not able to manage or raise their kids but did not want to have an abortion. The woman explained to Tony and Lauren that they had no problem placing white babies but found it extremely challenging to place bi-racial or black babies. The Dungy’s were heartbroken to hear this news. After agreeing to adopt one child, Lauren said that they couldn’t leave that child without similarly aged children around as he grew up. And so began the ongoing process of adoption.
One of the most challenging periods of their lives was the suicide of their son, James. Tony spoke about how difficult this period was for the two of them. He spoke about his conversations with former Bucs QB Trent Dilfer, whose 4-year-old son had died a traumatic death a few years earlier. Tony recalls telling Dilfer that he would not be able to handle things as well as Dilfer had. Dilfer told him that God would give him the strength if that were to occur, and Dilfer was a major support for Coach after that tragedy.
As the conversation shifted to Dungy’s demeanor and coaching style, Broussard asked about whether that impacted his ability to be a successful coach. Dungy pointed out that his role model was the coaching style of Steelers legend Chuck Noll. As Dungy gave thought to which coaches had most profoundly impacted his playing career (and life), it was those coaches who took the time to teach him, rather than chastise him. Tony decided to emulate that style, and had it further reinforced for him as Coach Noll told him that the primary responsibility of a coach is to make his players better. Dungy felt in his heart that he would do more good by becoming a “teacher” instead of a “yeller.”
Rising up the coaching ranks, Dungy began getting opportunities to interview for head coaching positions. During those interviews, it became apparent to Dungy that most owners preferred to have a “tougher” coach and one that would be more stern and harder on the players. As he spoke to the team chaplain, Dungy expressed consideration of altering his interviewing style to present a more forceful front. The chaplain encouraged Dungy to remain true to himself and his heart. When Dungy finally had an opportunity to interview with Tampa Bay owner Malcolm Glazer, the conversation turned to this issue. As Dungy related his plans and style, Glazer affirmed Dungy’s decision by telling him that the teaching style was the way that Glazer had raised his children.
Dungy stunned the NFL world by walking away from coaching at the height of his career. However, he felt that he had a lot of other work to do in the world. He has spent a lot of time with prison ministry work, reading to children and supporting initiatives relating to foster care. Having two parents who were teachers, Dungy adapted to the educational role very easily and has partnered with Chris Broussard and his KING Movement.
Broussard spoke in more detail about the KING Movement and how it represented fellowship and brotherhood for the African American community. It allowed men to live out their faith through monthly meetings and national events occurring at the 20 Chapters around the country. The KING Movement has a huge focus on literacy. Broussard quotes statistics showing that only 12% of black kids in 8th grade read proficiently. He lamented at the attitude in the black community that reading “is not for us.”
If you would like to see additional appearances, you can sign up for events being held on August 24, 2024, in Wheaton, IL and in Chicago. https://www.resourceglobal.org/tonydungy
Take advantage of the opportunity to listen and learn from these two leaders who are giving so much back to their communities and communities across the country. You will not be disappointed as you get a chance to engage with these gentleman who are both so humble, kind and patient with all of the photo requests as well as in-depth conversations with former players such as former Bears CB Charles Tillman (below).
AND THE PUNCHLINE TO THE DEVIN HESTER STORY--WHEN ASKED IF HE THOUGHT ABOUT FIRING THE TEAM CHAPLAIN, TONY RELAYED THE STORY OF DISCUSSING IT WITH THE CHAPLAIN AFTER THE GAME. THE CHAPLAIN CHUCKLED AND SAID, "YOU MISUNDERSTOOD THE STORY. THE POINT OF THE STORY WAS TO KNOW YOUR OPPONENT'S WEAKNESS, NOT TO GO AFTER THEIR STRENGTH! BUT MAYBE TONY CAN TAKE SOLACE IN KNOWING HE PLAYED A PART IN DEVIN HESTER GETTING A CALL FOR THE HALL OF FAME!
