Tony Dungy is widely known as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history — a Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Famer and a leader respected throughout the sports world. But beyond the sidelines and championship moments, Dungy has spent more than two decades investing in something much deeper: helping coaches grow in their faith.
In 2001, Dungy helped launch a Bible study fellowship for NFL coaches alongside leaders like Leslie Frazier, creating a space where coaches could encourage one another spiritually and personally during the challenges of life in professional football.
The idea was born during one of the most difficult times of the NFL calendar — the offseason, when many coaches are searching for new opportunities after being fired or facing uncertainty.
“It really started in January, February of 2001,” Dungy said. “That time of year is really a tough time because the season ends, teams that don’t make the playoffs, a lot of times they make changes. And so you have coaches that are out of jobs looking for jobs, just got let go.”
Rather than allowing those coaches to face those moments alone, Dungy and Frazier created a support system built on prayer, encouragement and Scripture.
“We said, ‘You know what? We need to form a support group to help these guys and just let them know that we’re behind them,’” Dungy said.
What started as phone calls twice a month has grown into a 25-year ministry that continues to impact coaches throughout the NFL.
(We invite you to listen to the conversation between Jalon Caldwell and Tony Dungy in the podcast below).
Growing Together Through God’s Word
The fellowship began with simple conversations — sharing prayer requests, celebrating victories and supporting each other through struggles. But over time, the group wanted something that could bring them even closer together.
Dungy credited Leslie Frazier with introducing the group to Scripture Union’s devotional series, Encounter with God, which became a foundation for their weekly spiritual growth.
“We ought to have something that bonds us together,” Dungy said. “Leslie came up with the idea. He was reading Scripture Union at the time and really a devotional they have called Encounter with God. And he said, ‘If we all go through this together, we’ll have kind of a common bond.’”
For 25 years, the coaches have continued studying the same devotionals, creating a unique connection among leaders who are often separated by competition on the field.
For Dungy, the lessons found in Scripture have consistently shaped how he views leadership — not only as a coach but as a follower of Christ.
Romans 12 and the Call to Lead Differently
One passage that has remained especially meaningful to Dungy is Romans 12:1-2, where the apostle Paul encourages believers to live differently from the world around them.
Dungy believes those verses provide a blueprint for coaches and leaders.
“Paul is talking about how we should live and how we need to be different, how we should worship God with our bodies, with everything we do,” Dungy said.
As he reflected on the passage, Dungy connected it to his approach when building coaching staffs during his NFL career.
“I wanted people who were devoted to the Lord, who were great teachers, had these different gifts, but they were committed to doing it differently,” he said.
To Dungy, Romans 12 is more than a Bible passage — it is a leadership philosophy.
“I just thought to myself, Paul, he was talking to believers, but this is a coach’s manual,” Dungy said. “This is telling us exactly how we need to do our jobs different than the world sees it.”
Staying True to Faith Despite Challenges
Dungy’s faith-centered leadership style was not always immediately accepted in the NFL.
During his coaching journey, Dungy said there were moments when his commitment to biblical principles may have cost him job opportunities. However, he remained committed to being authentic rather than changing his beliefs to fit expectations.
While interviewing for head coaching positions, Dungy recalled being questioned about his approach to leadership and motivation.
One owner asked how he would motivate high-energy players, and Dungy explained that his foundation would be built on love and respect.
“I talked about starting with love and respect and that we would put it together that way and that I thought the players would gravitate to me because I showed them love and respect,” Dungy said.
The owner responded that he did not believe that approach would work in the NFL, and Dungy did not get the job.
Another owner asked if the team would be the number one priority in his life.
“I said, ‘No, I’m sorry. I will try to win a Super Bowl. I think I can win a Super Bowl for you, but no, your team won’t be the number one priority in my life,’” Dungy said. “My relationship with God, my family is always going to be first.”
Eventually, Dungy found the opportunity that aligned with his values when he interviewed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer.
“When I told him the same thing, he said, ‘You know what? That’s how I raised my boys. That’s what I’m looking for,’” Dungy said.
Glazer hired Dungy, beginning the path that would eventually lead him to become one of the NFL’s most respected coaches.
A Super Bowl Victory With a Greater Purpose
In 2007, Dungy made history when he became the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl after leading the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI.
While the achievement carried historical significance, Dungy said his focus was always on honoring God through the opportunity.
Before the game, Dungy spoke regularly with pastor Tony Evans about how he should approach the moment regardless of the outcome.
Evans challenged him to consider both possibilities: how he would respond if he won and how he would respond if he lost.
That perspective helped Dungy focus on something bigger than a championship.
After the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears, CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz asked Dungy about becoming the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl.
Dungy acknowledged the significance but emphasized his faith.
“I told him, Jim, it feels good. I’m resting on the shoulders or standing on the shoulders of a lot of men who went before me,” Dungy said. “But even more important than that to me is the fact that I won as a Christian coach.”
Dungy viewed the moment as proof that faith and excellence could exist together at the highest level of professional sports.
“I wanted to show people that I could coach in a godly way and still succeed,” he said.
Continuing the Mission Beyond Football
Since stepping away from coaching, Dungy has continued focusing on ministry, mentoring young people, supporting families and serving communities.
He believes one of the greatest challenges facing society today is the breakdown of families and the loss of strong values.
“That’s one place where I think Satan has really orchestrated a breakdown is in our family structure,” Dungy said. “We have so many broken families.”
Dungy says his mission in this season of life is to help restore those foundations and encourage others to use their influence for good.
He believes everyone has a platform, regardless of their profession or level of success.
“You may not have a platform of a Super Bowl and a hundred million people,” Dungy said. “Your platform may be only one or two, but if you use it properly and one person gets the impact, you’re going to make a difference for the kingdom.”
Sharing the Stories Behind “Coaches in the Word”
Dungy’s passion for encouraging faith among coaches continues through the Coaches in the Word series, a project created with Scripture Union that highlights the spiritual journeys of coaches across the sports world.
The series gives listeners an opportunity to hear from coaches beyond their public roles and discover the faith foundations that guide them.
“People might see them on TV, but they don’t realize the spiritual foundation that we have together,” Dungy said.
Through conversations with coaches like Leslie Frazier and others, the series highlights how God’s Word continues shaping leaders both on and off the field.
A Message That Extends Beyond Football
As Dungy reflected on his 25 years of ministry, he returned to a lesson passed down from his mother and one of her favorite Bible verses, Matthew 16:26.
The verse asks, “What would it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?”
For Dungy, that message applies to everyone — regardless of career, success or influence.
“Yes, you can look at us and think, ‘Oh, we’re successful because we’ve got fun jobs. We work in the National Football League,’” Dungy said. “But if that’s all we do and that’s all we’re doing is winning football games, it’s not going to mean anything in the long run.”
His encouragement remains simple: pursue success, but never at the expense of faith and purpose.
“Don’t forfeit your soul chasing worldly things,” Dungy said.
