Colts Coach Tony Dungy Retires

Dungy made a remarkable impact around the league. In an era when there were few black head coaches, Dungy helped open the door to rising stars and a growing number of minority candidates. Among those from his Tampa Bay staff who have had head coaching jobs are Herm Edwards, now with Kansas City, Chicago's Lovie Smith, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin and former Detroit coach Rod Marinelli.

This Feb. 4, 2007 file photo shows Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy being dunked after the Colts...

This Feb. 4, 2007 file photo shows Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy being dunked after the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl XLI football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. Dungy is retiring after seven years as coach of the Indianapolis Colts, according to reports Monday Jan. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

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Dungy also set league records for most consecutive playoff seasons (10) and consecutive 12-win seasons (six), and leaves with the highest average of regular-season victories of any coach in league history (10.7).

And those around the league acknowledged Dungy's legacy will be the way he won.

"People often say that teams reflect their head coach, and that can be said of Tony Dungy's teams, which are consistent winners every single year," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "Tony has been such a fixture in this league that his absence will take some getting used to."

Dungy has always considered faith, family and football to be his priorities.

But he always wound up back on the sideline. Last year, he returned to help open the Colts' new stadium after Irsay agreed to let Dungy commute home on his private jet.

Although Dungy said the travel was not a burden and enjoyed this season, clearly, the time away from home was something that tugged at Dungy's heart.

Even Irsay sensed this would be Dungy's last go-around before their Sunday night meeting.

"I knew this day would come some time, it always does in life," Irsay said, tearing up. "It's been an incredible journey, and as an owner, I think, you dream of having the kind of relationship with a head coach that I've had with Tony."

The decision came a little more than a week after the Colts lost their first playoff game for the second straight season, and it ends a coaching career in which Dungy reached one NFC championship game and two AFC championship games.

In addition, Dungy finished his six-year tenure in Tampa and his seven-year stint in Indy as the career leader in victories for both franchises, finishing with an overall record of 148-79.