INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Dungy has retired after seven years as coach of the Indianapolis Colts, saying this was the right moment.
“These seven years have been better than I could ever have imagined,” Dungy, the only black coach to win a Super Bowl, said at a news conference Monday. “I just have to thank everyone.”
He will be replaced by associate coach Jim Caldwell.
Dungy, 53, has spent the past five years debating whether to leave football to spend more time with his family. He said he and his wife discussed the decision.
“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.”
Dungy is the Colts’ franchise leader in victories. He went 85-27 in the regular season and 7-6 in the playoffs, including the victory over Chicago in the 2007 Super Bowl.
“You don’t always get to go out on top,” Dungy said, “and it’s hard to go out on top.”
The plan to have Caldwell replace Dungy as the Colts’ coach 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.
“He is ready, he’s more than ready,” Dungy said. “He’s going to do a great job.”
Dungy’s decision comes a little more than a week after the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs. He spoke to several of his players Monday, including Manning.
“That’s the tough part,” Dungy said. “That’s been the emotionally draining part of today.”
He 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.
“I’m going to be a Colt forever,” Dungy said, adding that he plans to still spend quite a bit of time in Indianapolis.
Notes
49ers interview Dennison
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Rick Dennison interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday to run their offense. He’s the fourth coach to interview for the job on Mike Singletary’s staff that came open when Mike Martz was fired last month. Former St. Louis coach Scott Linehan, Indianapolis receivers coach Clyde Christensen and Cleveland offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski already have interviewed with Singletary.
Denver hires head coach
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver hired 32-year-old New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to replace Mike Shanahan, the only NFL head coach to get fired by a team he led to consecutive Super Bowl wins. McDaniels agreed to a four-year deal believed to be worth about $8 million.
Cardinals TE Spach out
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals starting tight end Stephen Spach is out for the playoffs with a torn knee ligament. Spach tore his right anterior cruciate ligament while blocking in the second half of Saturday night’s 33-13 victory over Carolina.
Meanwhile, it was uncertain if Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin, who sat out against the Panthers with a strained left hamstring, would play in Sunday’s NFC championship game against Philadelphia.
Lions interview Schwartz again
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions put Jim Schwartz behind a podium to answer questions from reporters as part of their second interview with the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator. Detroit interviewed Schwartz after the regular season. The Lions, who fired Rod Marinelli after his team made history, also have interest in numerous other candidates including Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.
Seahawks add D-coordinator
RENTON — The remodeling Seattle Seahawks hired Casey Bradley as their defensive coordinator and Dan Quinn as their defensive line coach and assistant head coach. The 42-year-old Bradley has been the linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past two seasons. Quinn, 38, was an assistant with the New York Jets the past two seasons.
Titans’ Johnson having MRI
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee rookie running back Chris Johnson wore a walking boot on his injured right foot and was scheduled for an MRI exam after a high ankle sprain knocked him out of the Titans’ playoff loss to Baltimore. All-Pro center Kevin Mawae needs surgery on a partially torn triceps tendon in his right arm and will miss the Pro Bowl as a result.
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