Dungy Staying

Tony Dungy is staying as coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

For a third straight offseason, the 52-year-old Dungy contemplated retirement. But the Colts announced today that he will return next season. Colts quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell will succeed him when Dungy retires.

Dungy often has said that he does not intend to be a football "lifer" and will walk away from the sport at some point to focus on his family and other interests. He spent last week pondering his decision. He'd said he would make an announcement today, and he informed Colts owner Jim Irsay of his decision as scheduled.

He has spent 12 seasons as an NFL head coach, six with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and six with the Colts. He became the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl when the Colts beat the Chicago Bears at the end of last season.

This season, the Colts went 13-3 during the regular season but lost to the San Diego Chargers in an AFC semifinal. Dungy is regarded as one of the most gracious and classiest men in the sport, and Colts players said in the locker room after the defeat to the Chargers they hoped that Dungy would return but they would respect his decision if he opted to walk away for personal reasons.

Caldwell withdrew last week from consideration for other head coaching vacancies around the league.

By Mark Maske |  January 21, 2008; 4:42 PM ET  | Category:  Colts
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