Coming out of the University of Minnesota as a quarterback, Tony Dungy expected to be picked in the 1977 NFL Draft.
During his time as a quarterback at Minnesota, Dungy was named the team MVP in 1975 and 1976 and even earned the Big Ten’s Medal of Honor in 1977, which recognized one student-athlete from the graduating class of each Big Ten member school for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout their college career, according to the award’s history.
But despite being the team MVP in 1975 and 1976, and earning the prestigious Big Ten award, Dungy never heard his name called on draft day.