One of the outlets to talk to Dungy is the New York Times. Dungy also coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had a 139-69 overall record in 13 seasons. Dungy, however, believes that teams are not following the spirit of the rule.
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Tony Dungy couldn’t believe what he was seeing. So was Mathis. “I’m just one of the workers”, Mathis said.
“People don’t know how hard it is to win”.
Perkins said Giants owner Wellington Mara mentioned Dungy’s name to Steelers owner Art Rooney over lunch one day. “That’s kind of what bothered me”. When Jim Irsay called me, he said we want to win, obviously, we want to go to Super Bowls, and thats the goal. “He did his job, let his play speak for itself and, boy, you appreciate that as a coach”. The training facilities had a third-world feel with trailers surrounding a small cinder-block building and two practice fields a fair catch from the runway at Tampa International Airport. “When Herm Edwards went to the Jets as a coach and then Lovie (Smith) went to the coordinator job to the Rams, we brought in a young Mike Tomlin”.
“The Rooney Rule, the genius of it, is it made you slow down, think outside the box, take your time”, Dungy said. “But my current Hall of Famers sitting to my left and right – I’m not going to break the record to have the shortest speech in Hall of Fame history”.
Harrison will be joined by his coach for seven seasons in Indianapolis, Tony Dungy. His success as a defensive coach with the Steelers, Chiefs and Vikings gained him recognition as the architect of smart, tough units. “But if you’re an up-and-coming assistant coach, are you as likely to become a head coach for the first time if you’re a minority?” He was passed over for more than a decade, overlooked twice by the Eagles and once after an interview with the Jaguars.
So Dungy’s confidence wasn’t soaring that afternoon in ’95 when the 40-year-old pulled into the Westshore Marriott to meet then-Bucs general manager Rich McKay.
Dungy, though, did get on the path earlier than that, and stayed steadfastly on it from then on.
“I’m with the bellman looking under the vehicle for this little screw”.
“I’ll be comfortable up there”, he said. You knew where he was going to be if you wanted to take him a way you could design your coverage to do that. But at least I’m going to be able to see.
“Rich is doing all he can to not laugh”.
“He had that unique ability where when you were around him, you felt like you were a good buddy of his”, Ilkin said. Why do you have your glasses like that?
Dungy wasn’t the Bucs’ first choice. They make mistakes. Dungy disciplined them, counseled them, and often gave them a second chance. Dungy didn’t look like those coaches, and his understated personality didn’t match their energy. Mora was always impressed with Harrison’s work ethic.
Did I ever think in 1996 when he challenged Sapp and I to be the Joe Greene and Jack Ham of his defense, that the three of us would be teammates 20 years later in the Hall of Fame? Brooks asked.
Harrison and Dungy retired after the 2008 season.
“I’m thinking, if I saw this, would I really vote to keep the team here?” he said.
The vote went the Bucs’ way, but the bad start continued. The usually stoic coach lost it in a meeting after learning two players had failed to fulfill some off-field commitments. Another was 45 minutes late for an autograph session at a auto dealership.
When players assembled to hear the game plan for the Raiders one Wednesday, Dungy put the notes he received about Upshaw and Rhett on the overhead projector. After taking the lead for the first time all game with a minute remaining, Marlon Jackson intercepted Brady, sealing one of the greatest comebacks in league history. The next week they played at San Diego and fell behind 14-0 before rallying to win 25-17.
In an eight-season stretch from 1998-2005, Pace played every game in seven of those seasons. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams. Whatever it may be because we knew that Coach Dungy was treating us with such respect. “I was surprised to find out everything”. “I was very disappointed”. That stuck with me forever. Manning pointed out Dungy’s calm demeanor as critical in the Colts rallying from an 18-point deficit to beat New England in their AFC title game before going on to win the Super Bowl. Not only did they win a Super Bowl together, but they broke record after record.
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While visiting, Dungy shared his thoughts about his time with the Steelers and his Hall of Fame selection.
