Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy steps down

It is expected that Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy to announce his retirement at a press conference tonight.

Tony Dungy is expected to announce his retirement on Monday after seven years as coach of the Indianapolis Colts, according to published reports.

The Colts have called a news conference for 5 p.m. ET Monday at the team's practice facility in Indianapolis, although the team did not give a reason in their announcement.


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Colts coach Dungy expected to retire at news conference
NFL.com Wire Reports


Tony Dungy is expected to announce his retirement on Monday after seven years as coach of the Indianapolis Colts, according to published reports.

The Colts have called a news conference for 5 p.m. ET Monday at the team's practice facility in Indianapolis, although the team did not give a reason in their announcement.

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Repeated messages were left by The Associated Press on Dungy's cell phone. Coaches, team officials, players and friends would not confirm the move.

The plan to have Caldwell replace Dungy was put in place last year when the coach pondered retirement. Caldwell joined Dungy's staff in Tampa Bay in 2001, then moved with Dungy to the Colts in 2002 and was the quarterbacks coach. A year ago, Caldwell was elevated to associate head coach though he continued to coach Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi.

Dungy has spent the past five years debating whether to leave football, each year taking about a week to meet with his family, which now lives in Tampa, Fla. He has always said when he left, he would not return.

He has always listed his priorities as faith, family and football, and returned to coach in 2008 when the Colts opened the new Lucas Oil Stadium only after team owner Jim Irsay agreed to let Dungy use a private jet to commute home.

The decision would end a tenure in Indianapolis during which Dungy became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl. He reached the playoffs all seven seasons, winning five division titles and appearing in two AFC title games.

Dungy would finish his career as the Colts' franchise leader in victories, going 85-27 in the regular season and 7-6 in the playoffs.

But Dungy's teams were also eliminated from the playoffs four times without winning a game, including the past two seasons after winning the Super Bowl -- prompting some to speculate that Dungy's indecision may have hurt the Colts' focus.

Jim Caldwell will likely be named the new coach tonight.