"We just felt this was the right time,"
Dungy said. "Don't shed any tears for me. I
got to live a dream most people don't get to
live."
"I think I've got a responsibility to be
home a little bit more, be available to my
family a little bit more and do some things
to help make our country better," Dungy
said. "I don't know what that is right now,
but we'll see."
Dungy's impact on the League will not be
lost on his departure. JUst this season,
four from his coaching tree were head
coaches. Herm Edwards, now with Kansas City,
Chicago's Lovie Smith, Pittsburgh's Mike
Tomlin and former Detroit coach Rod
Marinelli were all on Dungy's Tampa Bay
staff. And now Jim Caldwell, from his
Indianapolis staff, is the new Indianapolis
head coach.
"His biggest legacy will be all the people
around the country who he's inspired to be
better and to deal with some of life's
tragedies in a manner that gives people a
lot of strength," Edwards said. "What he
went through with his [son's suicide in
2005] and how he handled it, was something
that says a lot about Tony, his faith and
what he stands for."
Dungy is not sure where he will end up next,
but rest assured his records will not easily
be broken. Dungy's winning percentage at
Indianapolis of .759 is second all-time and
his average of 10.7 wins per season for his
entire coaching career are the benchmark for
unparalleled greatness.
"People often say that teams reflect their
head coach, and that can be said of Tony
Dungy's teams, which are consistent winners
every single year," New England coach Bill
Belichick said. "Tony has been such a
fixture in this league that his absence will
take some getting used to."
Even the commissioner who came into his job
as Dungy was winning that Super Bowl was
moved to comment.
"Tony Dungy taught us all how to handle
triumph and tragedy with dignity and grace,"
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.
"Although we will miss him, Tony is a great
man and his impact will be part of the NFL
forever."
