Tony Dungy

Tony Dungy (born October 6, 1955 in Jackson, Michigan) is an African-American former professional football player and current coach in the NFL.

Related Topics:
October 6 - 1955 - Jackson - Michigan - African-American - Football - NFL

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After playing safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1977 and 1978 and for the San Francisco 49ers in 1979 (he had played quarterback in college, at the University of Minnesota), Dungy became an assistant coach for the Steelers in 1981 at the age of 25 (being promoted to defensive coordinator at age 28), then moved on to assistant posts with the Kansas City Chiefs (defensive backs coach, 1989-1991) and Minnesota Vikings (defensive coordinator, 1992-1995), and in 1996 was named head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Related Topics:
Pittsburgh Steelers - 1977 - 1978 - San Francisco 49ers - 1979 - Quarterback - University of Minnesota - 1981 - Kansas City Chiefs - 1989 - 1991 - Minnesota Vikings - 1992 - 1995 - 1996 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Dungy's coaching strategy (known as his primary coaching strategy, as while he was with Tampa Bay, he had personnel control over both the offense and defense) involves a conservative, ball control offense based primarily around running the ball and short high-percentage passes, combined with a stifling "Cover 2" style zone defense, which is usually based out of a 4 down linemen, 3 linebacker, 4 defensive back formation. The "Cover 2" defense Dungy uses involves having his lineman rush the passer, while the cornerbacks cover the passing flat area, the linebackers covering the middle of the field, and the safetys providing deep coverage on each 'half' of their respective zone. The core personnel to his defensive design are fast linemen who can quickly rush and pressure the quarterback without the aid of a blitz, linebackers who can quickly read a play and either drop into coverage or rush to the line of scrimmage to stop a run, and fast devensive backs that can quickly run to a reciever targeted for a pass and reach them before the ball, in an attempt to intercept or deflect the pass. Finding weaknesses in Dungy's defence is exceptionally difficult, but teams that can skillfully run the ball up the middle through the linemen, or pass the ball on the underneath seam infront of the linebackers, or along the seam between the linebackers and cornerbacks have managed to be successful against his style.

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Dungy remained in the capacity of coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through the 2001 season, after which he was fired by the team on account of the club's repeated losses in the playoffs — most notably two lopsided defeats (in 2000 and 2001) to the Philadelphia Eagles, and because it was determined by the teams higher management that the conservative offense that Dungy ran was to inconsistent against National Football League teams. The following year, the Buccaneers easily defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2002 NFC Championship game under coach Jon Gruden en route to the club's lone Super Bowl appearance and victory.

Related Topics:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2001 - 2000 - Philadelphia Eagles - National Football League - 2002 - Jon Gruden - Super Bowl

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On January 22, 2002, Dungy was hired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, a team that at the time was very potent offensively, but very weak defensively. He installed his "Cover 2" defense immediately and ever since has set about re-tooling the Colts defense to his liking. Since joining the Colts, Dungy has left the high-power offense previously installed there by Jim Mora, in both playing style and in personnel, virtually unchanged.

Related Topics:
January 22 - 2002 - Indianapolis Colts - Jim Mora

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Unfortunately since his arrival in Indianapolis Dungy has struggled to fix the Colts defense, and has not been able to overcome the troubling pattern of his teams falling short in the playoffs: In his first season at Indianapolis the Colts were shut out 41-0 by the New York Jets in a first-round playoff game, and the team lost postseason games to the New England Patriots in both 2003 (in the AFC championship game) and 2004 (in the second round of the playoffs). Many across the Nation and in the media feel that Dungy's teams are unable to get over that "hump". Inspite of this percieved problem, Dungy was offered and signed a three year contract extension in 2005, for five million dollars a year.

Related Topics:
Indianapolis - Colts - New York Jets - New England Patriots - 2003 - 2004

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Known around the league and in the media as not only one of the most intelligent defensive minds in the game, but one of the games best ambassadors, Dungy is also a devout Christian and family man, and is very involved with several charitable organizations.

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