NFL: Each team’s greatest head coach in franchise history

Indianapolis Colts: Tony Dungy (2002-08)

The Indianapolis Colts have had their share of great coaches who deserve recognition. Back when they were still in Baltimore, they had shot callers such as Weeb Ewbank, who won two titles and Don Shula, who was 71-23-4 overall as head coach. However, it’s hard to give this honor to anyone other than Tony Dungy.

Dungy had plenty of success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but his reputation as a coach who couldn’t close it out largely defined his first head coaching gig. Leaving Tampa Bay ended up being the best thing for him, as the defensive guru landed with the Colts — a high-powered offense led by Peyton Manning that happened to struggle on defense.

Understanding the offense needed no help, Dungy allowed Manning and offensive coordinator Tom Moore to do their thing and he worked to improve the defense. That ended up making them one of the most feared teams in the NFL. He was a remarkable 85-27 as their coach.

Following the 2006 NFL season, Dungy and the Colts finally won the whole thing, as they defeated Dungy’s good friend and protegé Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

More importantly, Dungy and Smith were the first two African-American head coaches to make the Super Bowl in its 41-year history and Dungy was the first to hoist the Lombardi trophy. In typical Dungy fashion, he quickly gave love to his friend and credited his faith for the huge accomplishment.

"“I’m proud to be the first African-American coach to win this,” Dungy said during the trophy ceremony according to ESPN. “But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord’s way. We’re more proud of that.”"

One of the best to ever coach the game of football, Dungy is an incredibly humble man who still shares his knowledge of the game with all of us as one of the better analysts on television for NBC.