Tony Dungy

First African American head coach to win a Super Bowl, architect of the Tampa 2 defense, and Hall of Famer.

Anthony Kevin Dungy (born October 6, 1955) is an American former professional football safety and coach who served as a head coach in the NFL for 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts. He led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, making him the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl.

Quick Facts

Position

Safety

Born

6 October 1955

Birthplace

Jackson, Michigan, U.S.

High school

Parkside (Jackson)

College

Minnesota (1973–1976)

Former teams

Pittsburgh Steelers (1977–1978)
San Francisco 49ers (1979)
New York Giants (1980)

Lore & Background

Dungy began his head coaching tenure in 1996 with the Buccaneers. He was fired after the 2001 playoffs but is credited with constructing the team that won Super Bowl XXXVII the following year. He served as the Colts' head coach for seven seasons, qualifying for the playoffs in each. His greatest success occurred with the Colts' Super Bowl-winning season in 2006, the franchise's first in over three decades and the first since relocating to Indianapolis. He retired after the 2008 season. Since retiring, he has served as an analyst on NBC's Football Night in America and is the national spokesman for All Pro Dad. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Reader's Guide

Dungy's coaching philosophy stresses that coaches are essentially teachers. He learned from Chuck Noll that a coach should train the 53rd player on the roster as he would the third player, which became the spine of his Next Man Up theory of calm coaching. On offense, he used a conservative, ball-control offense at Tampa Bay; at Indianapolis, he inherited and kept the offense designed by Tom Moore. On defense, he used the Tampa 2, a systemized version of the Cover 2 defense.

Did You Know?

Dungy is the most recent NFL player to intercept a pass and throw an interception in the same game.
He was the youngest assistant coach at age 25 and the youngest coordinator at age 28 in NFL history.
Dungy is the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.
He won a championship ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Tony Dungy?

He served as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 until his retirement in 2008. Historically, he holds the distinction of being the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl.

What defensive scheme did he introduce?

Upon arriving, Dungy installed his signature Tampa 2 system to fix a previously weak defense. He simultaneously retained offensive coordinator Tom Moore to maintain the team's high-powered scoring ability.

How many playoff appearances did he secure?

The Colts qualified for the postseason in each of his seven seasons at the helm. This consistency turned the franchise into a perennial contender during that era.

What was his biggest achievement with the team?

His tenure is defined by guiding Indianapolis to victory in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. This championship marked the culmination of his seven-year run as head coach.

When did his coaching career with the Colts begin and end?

He officially started leading the team on January 22, 2002. His time in Indianapolis concluded after the final game of the 2008 season when he retired from coaching.