A 13-year NFL head coach and beloved figure has confirmed that he will not return to his role with NBC, coming after an ESPN employee demanded that he be fired for his Bill Belichick take
05:29 ET, 13 Mar 2026
Tony Dungy
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Tony Dungy will not return to NBC after 19 years with the company(Image: Getty Images)
Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy has revealed he will not return to NBC after 17 years with the major sports broadcaster, just a few weeks after an ESPN employee stated that he should be fired.
The Pittsburgh Steelers legend and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts head coach has been with NBC Sports since 2009, spending the last 45 years either coaching or analyzing the sport. But he now faces being outside of the spotlight for the first time since 1981 after NBC chose not to renew his contract. Dungy had just covered the Super Bowl with NBC, speaking on the Seattle Seahawks' win over the New England Patriots.
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It comes after ESPN broadcaster Michael Kay was heavily critical of Dungy as he refused to speak on Bill Belichick missing out on the Hall of Fame.
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The 70-year-old confirmed the news of his departure from NBC as he tweeted: "I have been informed by NBC that I won’t be back with FNIA this fall and it has given me time to reflect and also to look ahead.
"It’s disappointing news but I want to thank my NBC family for making the last 17 years so special. I’ll have lasting memories of my time there, especially with Rodney Harrison who has become a tremendous friend."
Bill Belichick
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Dungy did not comment on his vote on Belichick being in the Hall of Fame(Image: Getty Images)
He added: "God has always directed me in these moments and while I’m not sure what the next step will be for me—whether it will be in football, in broadcasting, or getting more involved in church and community outreach —I know God has plans for my life and I can’t wait see them unfold. And I am reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Bible-Romans 8:28. 'God works all things for His good for those who love the Lord.'"
The aforementioned Belichick missed out on being a first ballot Hall of Famer, leading many to be furious that voters would not immediately add him in.
Dungy was asked about Belichick missing out on the Hall of Fame on NBC's pre-game show, where he said: "I’m not going to disclose it. When you come on the committee, you take an oath that you’re not going to discuss any of the debates, anything that happened there. I’m not going to put any of my teammates under the bus who they voted for, who I voted for.”
Dungy has either coached in the NFL or been an analyst every year since 1981
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Dungy has either coached in the NFL or been an analyst every year since 1981(Image: Getty Images)
Kay had been angry on Dungy's refusal to speak on his vote, while going as far as stating that NBC should fire him
He said: "Tony Dungy, who’s getting paid by NBC, was asked on the never-ending pregame show whether or not he voted for Bill Belichick. He said he’s not going to discuss it.
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“First of all, if I’m NBC, I fire him on the spot. We’re paying you whatever amount of money we’re paying you; you’re discussing it. What’s your value to us if you’re making news and you’re not discussing it with us?”
Belichick has six Super Bowl championships as a head coach and two as a Defensive Coordinator, being seen as the greatest of all-time.
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