Every time the Cowboys lose, we’ll profile potential replacements for Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, should he be fired by the end of the season. Today, it’s Tony Dungy!
Name: Anthony Kevin Dungy
Career Record: 139-69
Credentials: Super Bowl winner. First African-American coach to win the Super Bowl. Likely Hall of Famer. In thirteen seasons as a head coach in the NFL, Tony Dungy had exactly one losing season, his first in Tampa Bay. He won six division titles. He took the Colts to the playoffs all seven years that he coached them (having Peyton Manning as his QB didn’t hurt, one would imagine). Helped pioneer the Cover Two defense that is still used by many teams throughout the league.
With Dungy, of course, you get more than just a football coach. You get one of the most highly regarded men in all of football. Dungy is revered by virtually everyone with whom he has come into contact. Former players, front offices executives, league executives, the media… The man is adored and respected by all. He’s also a best-selling author and is heavily involved with community programs including prison ministries, Big Brothers/Sisters, The Boys and Girls Club… you name it. Hiring Dungy would be a stabilizing move for a franchise that is usually among the league’s most impulsive. Try and find one sane person who would be upset about the Cowboys hiring Tony Dungy. And no, Jerry Jones does not count as sane.
Weaknesses: Well, there’s the fact that he’ll never coach here. Ever. But let’s ignore that fact for just a moment. A couple things. First off, Dungy has a losing record in the postseason of 9-10. Those were some awfully talented teams he had in Indy to only have one Super Bowl title to show for it. Dungy is also known for his propensity to NOT put football first. He does not spend all night in his office studying tape. He is not a workaholic. I’m not saying that makes him a worse coach than the Jon Grudens of the world. I’m just saying that, usually in the NFL, you need a coach who’s a complete nutjob who shuns the outside world 110 hours a week to break down blitz protections. Tony Dungy is not that coach.
Odds Of Being Named The Next Cowboys Coach: 10,000/1. Dungy has already stated on NBC that he does not intend to coach in the NFL next season. After all, why would you retire from a team that has the best GM and QB in football only to turn around and get back in a year later? There’s also the fact that a respected, God-fearing man like Dungy would be able to coexist with the Double J and his harem of airplane mistresses is a bit of a stretch. Dungy seems more interested in charity work and telling people that Michael Vick isn’t a complete monster.
Do You Want Him?: Only you know for sure. Let us know in the comments.
