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Dungy leaves NFL for higher calling

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Alex Marvez

Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He has covered the NFL for the past 17 seasons as a beat writer and is the former president of the Pro Football Writers of America. He also is a frequent host on Sirius XM NFL Radio.

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Updated Jan 12, 2009 11:07 PM ET
     
 
The NFL's loss will be society's gain.
How many head coaches can you say that about? For all of his football accomplishments, the best is yet to come for Tony Dungy. As first reported exclusively by FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer, Dungy stepped down Monday as Indianapolis' head coach. Don't call it a retirement even though the 53-year-old may never return to the sideline again. In fact, Dungy will be busier than ever. Unlike other departing coaches who immediately head for television announcing gigs or the golf course, Dungy has far more important things in mind. Like trying to influence others with positive messages beyond the three Christian-themed books he already has written. For the past several years, Dungy was torn between staying in the NFL and the pursuit of nobler endeavors. When meeting with Colts media last week, a then-undecided Dungy discussed his desire to eventually become involved in such undertakings as prison ministry and family-oriented works like mentoring teenagers. The latter became even closer to Dungy's heart following the 2005 suicide of his 18-year-old son James. Dungy couldn't be blamed had he walked away from coaching then. He instead became an example of how to persevere through immeasurable grief. Dungy was rewarded the following season when Indianapolis won Super Bowl XLI, reaffirming that nice guys can still finish first among his predominantly cut-throat peers. It wasn't the first or last time Dungy would serve as a role model. Dungy already was a trailblazer even before becoming the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl. He played quarterback at the University of Minnesota during the 1970s when blacks often weren't given that chance because of racial bias. In 1996, Dungy became only the fifth African-American head coach in NFL history — an opportunity long overdue considering his prowess as a defensive coordinator. Dungy then reaffirmed that NFL success is color blind. In December, he proved worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as legends like Don Shula, Tom Landry and the late Bill Walsh when setting a record for modern-day coaches with his 10th consecutive playoff appearance. Yet there is another big name with whom Dungy is associated with: Altanta Braves manager Bobby Cox. Despite long thriving in their respective sports, both built reputations for not winning enough world titles considering the talent at their disposal. Dungy has a mediocre 9-10 playoff record, including first-round losses in three of the past four seasons. A 23-17 overtime defeat at San Diego nine days ago was possibly the most heartbreaking. According to a confidant, Dungy believed the 2008 Colts had enough talent to reach Super Bowl XLIII, allowing him to return to the place where his NFL head coaching career began — Tampa. When that failed to pass, Dungy was sorely disappointed that his career couldn't come full circle. Dungy wasn't the only one upset by the Chargers loss. Criticism was building that the Colts had plateaued under Dungy, that another head coach might be able to draw better postseason quarterbacking performances out of Peyton Manning. Such responsibility now falls to Jim Caldwell, an offensive assistant who was anointed Dungy's heir apparent in 2008. He inherits a team that should still be a legitimate Super Bowl contender next season thanks to Manning and other personnel assembled by brilliant general manager Bill Polian. Maybe Caldwell will ultimately become a more successful coach than Dungy. But it's hard to imagine anyone being a better person by trying to make the world a better place. This is what Dungy should be proudest of as he walks away on his own terms for a higher calling.

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