Tony Dungy Is Looking For Work
March 12th, 2026
So an iconic defensive coach and coach developer seems like he might be ripe and ready for a consulting gig to help a friend’s struggling defense.
Joe is referring to Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, aka Father Dungy. He was relieved of his duties as an NBC analyst and, per ProFootballTalk.com, Dungy is looking for work and would consider “football.”
It’s unclear whether 70-year-old Dungy was referring to broadcasting or coaching, but most football people don’t consider “football” to be anything tied to media.
For those unaware, the former Bucs head coach (1996-2001) lives full-time in Tampa. And the struggling defense to which Joe was referring belongs to Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers.
Bowles is used to having an older mentor on his staff. Senior offensive advisor Tom Moore just stepped down at 87 years old. He was Bucco Bruce Arians’ mentor and stayed on as a Bowles confident. Moore was no figurehead; Bowles said he was an integral piece to the offense and a key sounding board for the head coach. Moore was known for arriving to work in the 3 a.m. hour.
Joe wouldn’t expect Dungy to be interested in long hours, but if Joe were coaching the Bucs defense, Joe would sure welcome Dungy’s eyes on it in a part-time capacity.
Also, Joe has to think that if Dungy was sitting in on defensive meetings and observing practice, that could only be a plus for the staff. Those guys know who Dungy is and his input would have instant credibility.
March 12th, 2026 at 10:43 am
He can be an adviser to our Super Bowl winning DC
March 12th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Dungy is a winner like Evans. He doesn’t want any of this.
March 12th, 2026 at 10:46 am
would love for him to be around but Todd wont listen to anything anyone has to say about “his” defense
USF would be good for Tony…he wants to teach…he could teach the USF player a ton
GO BUCS!!!!
March 12th, 2026 at 10:54 am
That would be a good idea if it were to really happen
March 12th, 2026 at 10:54 am
There’s our Edge Rusher … Tony the tiger
March 12th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Lmao
March 12th, 2026 at 10:55 am
Great idea Joe…. but would Bowles listen??? If he did maybe Dungy could convince him that Vita should never ever try to cover a slot or tightend.
March 12th, 2026 at 10:58 am
This would be welcome news. Tony knows how to develop players and build a defense. I think Todd knows how to run a defense, but he doesn’t seem able to develop one from the ground up.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:00 am
If you judge this franchise from the comments of some disgruntled so-called fans
You would think we are the Jags, Browns, Falcons, Panthers, Texans, Bills, Cardinals, Bengals, Chargers etc…..teams who never enjoyed the luxury of lifting the Lombardi trophy..
Funny thing is, this Ownership has lifted it twice in the past 25 years
Only a few teams has those bragging rights
I’m all with this Ownership, GM, HC
We can use Tony as an Special Advisor
To our Lombardi winning DC
March 12th, 2026 at 11:01 am
Only thing I’d like to see Tony advise him on is to retire after this season.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:05 am
Devin White will be a free agent again shortly, let’s bring him back and see if Tony can get anything out of him! LOL
March 12th, 2026 at 11:07 am
He will be an advisory next year when Mike Tomlin takes over. No need to help Bowles retain in his job in anyway. Bowles is just a hold over until they can get everything in place to get rid of him come the end of this season.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Well Joe first on another point the Ira podcast. I usually agree with Ira and part of me does. Joe I agree ME leaving is a hard blow to the fans and even bigger to the organization. The article from the channel 10 reporter was outstanding!!!, and I believe spot on. Yes shame on the organization they were a huge factor in my opinion for all the reasons stated by the reporter. With that in mind to the current topic. Currently I have little faith In Licht, Bowles or the Glazers to correct the defense. While not a Bowles detractor, I think his ego may get in the way of bringing someone like Dungy on board. We have seen him defend his defense, not complicated, and the players simply missed assignments. So while I think Dungy would be great, I don’t see Bowles buying into it. He does appear stubborn about his defensive ideas and I think he will sink before he changes. He hasn’t thus far .
To make matters worse the defense remains without any pass rush and that does not appear to be changing. I think this is what ME saw from the organization and knew he had to leave. Happy for Mike totally disappointed and disillusioned with the Bucs. They seem to like their bed and are happy to lie in it, refusing to change.
So as fans we endure or go pick another team. Like Mike I may have had enough myself
March 12th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Lakeland, winning/not winning a Lombardi in the past doesn’t mean you aren’t incompetent now. Half of the teams you listed are currently better than the Bucs. Yes, Father Dungy should be a special advisor because unlike our current leadership…he’s hoisted one as a head coach with a .668 career win %. Bowles is .445 aka BAD
March 12th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Please, no.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:17 am
How old is Father Dungy? Its about time for him to retire. He has put in his work
March 12th, 2026 at 11:28 am
Too passive, enough of that. Resurrect Monte, or no!
March 12th, 2026 at 11:31 am
Lakeland = Jason Licht
In 1933 Germany he would have be goose stepping and saying “Just go along, it will be fine”.
Zero chance Tony wants to tarnish his reputation by getting lumped in with Bowels.
2026 needs to be the last time he ever is the HC, for any team.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Dungy is a 4-3 guy and Todd is a 3-4 guy. May not gel as much as I would wish.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:33 am
“Those guys know who Dungy is and his input would have instant credibility.”
There’s your sign !
March 12th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Invite him to camp, and let him linger
March 12th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Why did NBC cut him loose? More air time for a 6’5″ woman in heels with no football background?
March 12th, 2026 at 11:53 am
JFC….does anyone want to do anything new or just rehire old coaches and sign washed up “vets”? Damn, yall are allergic to new ideas and new thinking. The Bucs too often do whats safe instead of blazing their own trail and doing something different.
This entire organization from the owners to the long snapper needs new, fresh, YOUNG energy! All these old people, old players and old coaches have nothing new to contribute. Thats why this team loses constantly, no imagination and no outside the box thinking.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Izien a lion
March 12th, 2026 at 11:57 am
This would be a no-brainer which is exactly why the stubborn, egotistical, not very thought provoking (being nice here) Bowles won’t go for it.
March 12th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Licht needs to tell Bowles he’s getting a promotion to Super Head Coach so he must hire Jim Schwartz as DC.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
I don’t know if Dungy would want to be part of this dumpster fire.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Izien to the Lions, lol we’re definetly drafting a CB
Also we apparently hosted Al -Quadin Muhammed for a visit.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
Damn can’t believe we lost Izien also. Everyone is leaving.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Rats fleeing a sinking ship.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
With the league revenue sharing program all the teams are profitable and the value of the franchises are guaranteed to increase regardless of ticket sales or win loss records. Therefore the owners have no real incentive to give a hoot about the fans or the players for that matter. The owners can be arrogant, foolhardy, thoughtless and suffer no consequences other than negative public opinion. Until and unless the owners FEEL that negativity nothing will change. I’m hoping that Tampa becomes a baseball and hockey town then things might change. When the seats are filled with only the opposing teams fans and the local media focuses on that and more honest reporting from the “wokesters” (not Joe and some others) enlightens the masses the fans can only expect more of the same and best prepare for another lost decade.
What a shame it will be when gamblers and gambling houses will make a fortune betting on the Bucs to lose. The owners may even get a little taste.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
Liked him more than Dean. Everyone knows they can coach our sorry corners better than Toad.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Great another off the couch guy
March 12th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Todd needs to be forced to agree to Tony Dungy’s hiring and let him re-construct practice. “It’s the details, the little things.” That’s what Dungy was famous for. Nothing about the team’s play looks like they pay attention to details.
This would inject some hope but it’s not gonna happen.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
The owners aren’t gonna do this. You would think since they own a business they’d be a lot better at building a top tier organization. They always rank low year after year when players are asked about the facility, owners, food, travel etc. Gronk wanted to be apart of the organization and told him to move on, Gruden is the Devil, could have kept Brady around, the old Super Bowl players should have free access to all things Bucs and yet the Glazers do all they can to shoot themselves in the foot. Fire Bowles after the collapse…. Nope. Make Evans the true face of the Bucs…. Nope. Does anyone worth a damn want to come here any more….. Nope. Brady changed the culture and the Glazers are doing everything possible to take it back to the lost decade
March 12th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Al -Quadin Muhammed would be another over30 year old signing but hard to ignore 11 sacks. Bucs going the short term rental route
March 12th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
It would be nothing more that a PR stunt. Dungy was tossed from the cast of nerds on NBC for basically admitting he didn’t vote for Belichick to get into the Hall of Fame.
Like Lynch and Gruden, I think he still has some ill will towards the organization.
They were all sent packing for far less than the Boiler Boys Licht & Bowles.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
Good stuff. I’m in
March 12th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
AMI_Chris Says:
“More air time for a 6’5″ woman in heels with no football background?”
.
.
Welcome to our (New) world.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I’m wondering if Izien wasn’t a bad apple (attitude) on the Bucs defense and the Bucs are just shedding one of their problem children.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
Do we know if Dungy and the Glazers ever mended fences?
March 12th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Not sure what an old 4-3 guy brings to a cutting edge 3-4 system
March 12th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Canabuc Says:
“Izien a lion”
.
.
😔 There is something wrong with this team. He is the definition of a “glue guy.”
Either Bowles didn’t want him back, or he wanted to leave. Either way, it is not a good sign.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
Maybe the Tony Dungy show on Joe Bucs Fan. Do film breakdown of Bucs games and upcoming opponents?
March 12th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
You are looking at it the wrong way: More Maria Taylor means less Cris Collinsworth. 🙂
Yes, Joe is pretty confident Father Dungy is a victim of the Thought Police because he likely did not vote for Bill Belicheat over Spygate and other transgressions.
Always thought he was a bad fit for TV. Way too dry. No personality. Knowledgeable, yes, but there are all kinds of guys knowledgeable who have a little personality.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Al-Quadin Muhammad
2025 Defense Stats
TOT SOLO AST SACK FF FR YDS INT
SEASEON 25 15 10 11 0 0 0 0
CAREER 193 126 67 26 4 1 0 0
March 12th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Joe, I would love if Coach Dungy advised this Team, he is so smart, and would be a great adviser for this team.
March 12th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
What Sal Volatile said.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
“More Maria Taylor means less Cris Collinsworth.”
.
.
Glass half full. LOL
March 12th, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Love tony Dungy and the idea of bringing Tony in as a consultant. He can help Bowles and Jason find 4 man pass rush. cause clearly they can’t do it on there own. Bring Tony Dungy here as a defensive consultant only.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
“I’m wondering if Izien wasn’t a bad apple (attitude) on the Bucs defense and the Bucs are just shedding one of their problem children.”
He was hurt to start the season, and then had another in-season. Also, the 2 positions we needed him at, we solved with 2 draftees in back to back years. Also, for the “we can’t develop talent” or “Licht stinks” crowd, we’re talking about a former UDFA lol
March 12th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
To bring in Dungy would be a good idea but it would be a show of weakness from the owners and Bowles and their pride and arrogance won’t let that happen.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
C’mon, they fired Dungy for a good reason.
He was a mediocre coach and it is a joke that he is in the HoF and Belichick is not.
Now if you want to conjure up the ghost of Monte Kiffin that might be a better plan.
P.S.
He was a terrible broadcaster too.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
Finally a statement I can agree with.
March 12th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
BucsMinisterFuller Says:
March 12th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
C’mon, they fired Dungy for a good reason.
He was a mediocre coach and it is a joke that he is in the HoF and Belichick is not.
Now if you want to conjure up the ghost of Monte Kiffin that might be a better plan.
^^^^^^
So, you are saying a defensive minded former Head Coach with a SB ring that witnessed Monte Kiffin up close would be of no use to Todd Bowles. Bowles “don’t need no stinking help”, right ?
March 12th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Sal Volatile,
That is exactly what I am saying.
March 12th, 2026 at 2:05 pm
A real competent head coach may have, and likely does, his mentors and learned from their wisdom. But does a real and competent head coach need a crutch and babysitter ?
Bowles had Tom Moore whom he said how much he relied upon. Bowles had Jackie Davidson in his ear for help in decision making during games. Bowles hired (don’t recall the name) an assistant to help with clock management.
Do any of the above true and factual statements indicate that Bowles is a competent and REAL head coach ?
And yet the owners stand by this man that failed with help that shouldn’t even be needed.
Sniff Sniff
March 12th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Guess we’re going for the #1 draft pick next year….mkay.