Smallthoughts:Old School Tuesday …Tony Dungy


Many Football fans think of Tony Dungy as a coach and a coach only. Few knew he was a member of the Pittsburgh Steeler defense back in the 70’s. When you listen to Dungy’s Hall of Fame speech …he speaks of himself as a Steeler first and foremost…interesting. Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday is recognizing both the playing career and the coaching career of Tony Dungy.

Dungy went undrafted in 1977 and was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League as a safety. He played as a defensive reserve and special teams player for the Steelers in 1977 and the Super Bowl champion 1978 season, leading the team in interceptions in the latter campaign. In 1979, Dungy was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, then finished his career a year later in the training camp of the New York Giants in 1980.

Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008.

Dungy became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears inSuper Bowl XLI. Dungy set a new NFL record for consecutive playoff appearances by a head coach in 2008 after securing his tenth straight playoff appearance with a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The Colts qualified for the playoffs in every season they were coached by Dungy.

Dungy is the most recent NFL player to intercept a pass and throw an interception in the same game. Dungy was the emergency quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 1977 game against the Houston Oilers when both Terry Bradshawand Mike Kruczek went down with injuries on October 9, 1977. He played safety on defense.

Dungy has one Super Bowl title as a player, as he was a member of the Steelers when they won Super Bowl XIII.

Dungy was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 6, 2016.

Smallthoughts:Old School Tuesday spotlights…Tony Dungy.

Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Win–loss record: 139-69
Playoffs record: 9-10
Overall record: 148-79

Published by bklynboy59

Welcome to Smallthoughtsinasportsworld. We keep it fun and we keep interesting and informative. On Tuesdays we go back in time with Old School Tuesdays, on Thursdays we keep it fun by Smallthoughts Trivia Thursday and on Fridays ...it is Smallthoughts: Rant of the Week and Smallthoughts:Rave of the Week and we also post the answer from Smallthoughts:Trivia Thursday. I am a lifelong New York Mets, Knicks and Jets and Giants fan. I root hard for my teams and have rooted for them even when it wasn't and in some cases still isn't easy. I enjoy talking sports, and on here I get to write about it as well. I have my thoughts hence Small thoughts, we will not always agree, but respectfully speak about what we feel. I invite your comments and feedback as well. You can also follow me on twitter @bklynboy59 and facebook Jerry bklynboy Small

5 thoughts on “Smallthoughts:Old School Tuesday …Tony Dungy

    1. so true…he paved the way for Gruden to win a super bowl for sure. If this was a Parcells or Jimmy Johnson type of coach you better believe they would let everyone know it which further underscores the low key approach of Tony Dungy

  1. Since winning the Superbowl , Jon Gruden imploded the roster and the Buccaneers have become a real joke . Now the idiot fans and media in the area believe Jameis Winston can take them to the Promised Land . It’s almost as symptomatic of the asinine events we’re now seeing with the two Presidential candidates. Make of it what you will.

    Is it me, but what were the idiots within the NFL hierarchy and the Hall of Fame thinking , when they decided to postpone the < season opener for the preseason ? Too much paint on the field and the condition of the playing surface wasn't up to par ? How long did they have to prepare for this game ?

    Roger Goodell should be removed from his position as NFL Commissioner. It's bad enough he is being paid more than some of the <a href=http://spotrac.com/nfl/rankings/average highest paid players in the NFL. Over the last two years , Goodell has averaged $23.6 million a year in salary and that doesn’t include incentives .

  2. Once a complete delusional idiot like tophatal praises Tony Dungy, it only proves my point that Dungy is now the least deserving member of the Hall of Fame.

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