by Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton
March 13, 2026
After 17 years, the Corridor of Fame coach is out at NBC.
In a social media submit this week, soccer analyst Tony Dungy confirmed the rumors that he would not be concerned within the pregame present of NBC’s Soccer Evening in America.
“It’s disappointing information however I wish to thank my NBC household for making the final 17 years so particular,” Dungy, 70, wrote on X. “I’ll have lasting recollections of my time there, particularly with Rodney Harrison who has change into an incredible good friend.”
The Athletic beforehand reported that the community had plans to shake up the present, which included Dungy not being within the lineup for the 2026 NFL season.
Dungy has been concerned in professional soccer for many of his life. He performed faculty soccer at Minnesota (1973–1976) earlier than taking part in within the NFL for 3 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants. He received a Tremendous Bowl in 1973 with the Steelers.
Although Dungy’s taking part in days have been forgettable, he actually made his mark as a coach. He was a longtime assistant with a number of groups (together with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings) earlier than changing into employed as the top coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996, turning round a struggling franchise. In 2002, he started a tremendously profitable stint as the top coach of the Indianapolis Colts, the place he received a Tremendous Bowl within the 2006 season.
That Tremendous Bowl, agains the Chicago Bears, was historic. It marked the primary time that two Black head coaches had confronted one another within the NFL’s greatest recreation. (Lovie Smith was Dungy’s opponent.) Dungy retired from teaching after the 2008 season, having by no means received fewer than 10 video games as season in Indianapolis). He was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2016.
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