Happy trails and godspeed to Tony Dungy, now former coach of the Indianapolis Colts
who announced his retirement yesterday. Yes, he had a remarkable record of getting his team into the playoffs, including his remarkable turnaroud of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team which was the laughing stock of the National Football League. Yes, he has a Super Bowl ring, winning it all with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007. Yes, he hold a number of coaching records, including:
- Most consecutive playoff seasons (10)
- Most consecutive 12-win seasons (6)
- Highest average of regular-season victories of any coach in league history (10.7)
But what captures the attention of most people is that
this perennial winner is a man of integrity and deep Christian faith. Even the most cynical sports reporters, who roll their eyes at fast-living womanizing athletes who open every interview with "
First I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...", can't help but see that this is a man who seriously walks the talk. He
treated players and people with love and respect, and his service record off the field is commendable.
Tony Dungy won't have any problems in his next season of life because he understands that being a football coach is
not his identity; being a follower of Jesus is. He understands that the chief end of man is not to seize the glory that comes along with trophies and championships; it is to glorify God. He will now devote time to his family and his ministries away from the strain of months of football. He is a man who was and will continue to be a great role model of what it means to live faithfully and to be salt and light to those around you.
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