DIRK SHADD | Times (2015)
SAN FRANCISCO — Tony Dungy was ready to walk away from the NFL when he was fired as Bucs coach after the 2001 season. A second straight lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC playoffs hastened his departure, even as the team had been in failed secret discussions with Bill Parcells to succeed him as coach.
Other teams wanted to talk to Dungy about openings, and in his six seasons with Tampa Bay, he already had become its all-time wins leader, reaching the playoffs four times.
But for a few days, Dungy strongly considered a life outside the league, in prison ministry.