After pondering retirement, Tony Dungy said Monday he will remain with Indianapolis Colts through at least the 2008 season. After he will retire, Dungy will be turning the program over to hand-picked successor Jim Caldwell. It’s the third straight year Dungy seriously considered retiring. Caldwell also replaced Dungy for one game late in the 2005 season so Dungy could attend his son’s funeral. The Colts lost that game 28-13 at Seattle playing primarily backups.



“It was a family decision,” Dungy said. “We’re on board, and we look forward to ‘08, look forward to putting together a winner.”

“He’s back 100 percent,” team president Bill Polian said. “We just completed our first day of coaching staff meetings and personnel review, which will be ongoing.


In fact, Polian predicted Dungy would be at the Colts complex more this year than last, when he had various responsibilities and engagements after becoming the first black coach to win the Super Bowl.


One of Dungy’s first priorities is to write his annual letter to his returning players. It lists when the offseason conditioning program begins and spells out various team and individual objectives. This time, though, Tony Dungy indicated he might emphasize to his players his commitment to them.