Tony Dungy will return as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2008 according to The Indianapolis Star. Reports surfaced last week that he might step down and that assistant head coach Jim Caldwell would take over.
“I’m here to announce that Tony Dungy is still our coach,” team owner Jim Irsay said this afternoon at a press conference at the team’s West 56th Street facility.
Dungy informed the team today of his decision, which was arrived at after he consulted with his wife, Lauren, at the family’s home in Tampa, Fla.
“I love this franchise. I love my family. My decision after my 10th year was, ‘Can I give my family and the franchise the energy and passion that they both deserve,’ Dungy said. “I look at this job as a job but I also look at it as a ministry.
“I’m happy to be back,” said Dungy, calling today’s announcement a “mutual decision” between him and his wife. “My whole family’s happy and hopefully our team and everyone here is happy.”
It’s good to see someone take some time to make a decision as big as this. Obviously Dungy didn’t let the media or anyone else hinder his decision about whether or not to return. He’s a damn fine coach and surely Colts fans are glad to have him back.
I wonder if Caldwell will ask the Falcons to re-consider him for their head coaching vacancy again. At the time the rumors surfaced about Dungy possibly retiring, Caldwell withdrew his name from consideration for both the Ravens and Falcons’ head coaching positions.
