A Football Post? HUH????

Super Bowl-Bound Colts' Head Coach Tony Dungy Rises Out of Tragedy and Gives the Glory to God

"We just have to thank the Lord. He did it in such a way that no one would believe it." — Tony Dungy

Aimee Herd (Jan 22nd, 2007)

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's always good to hear God get the glory when achievements and goals are reached by people who have trusted in Him to help them. Such was the case this weekend with Head Coach Tony Dungy, as his Indianapolis Colts persevered past the New England Patriots, to clinch the AFC Championship in the biggest comeback in conference title game history. But if you dig deeper, you'll find there is even more substance to this man, who has endured by faith, one of the most devastating tragedies a family can face—his son's suicide. – Aimee Herd, BCN.

Indianapolis Colts' Head Coach, Tony Dungy, was all smiles and hugs Sunday, as his team made their mark for the "biggest comeback in conference title game history," to win the AFC Championship—sending them to the Super Bowl to play the Chicago Bears.

"We just have to thank the Lord. He did it in such a way that no one would believe it," exclaimed Dungy to a packed stadium of roaring fans, and TV cameras. Certainly the come-from-behind win in the last minute of the game was amazing, but this has been a kind of "come-from-behind" year for the coach and his family.

The heartache they'd been enduring was spoken about by Dungy last February, at the 19th annual Athletes in Action Super Bowl breakfast, when he told of how his son, James—who would've been 19—committed suicide the December before.

"He was a Christian and is today in Heaven," explained a tearful Dungy, reported in a BP News article. "He was struggling with the things of the world and took his own life. People ask how I could come back to work so soon. I'm not totally recovered, I don't know if I ever will be, it's still ever-painful. But some good things have come out of it."

According to the report, two people received their eyesight from James' donated corneas ... and Dungy himself had the opportunity to speak with, and encourage other youths who were going through similar struggles as his son.

Before a ballroom, filled with former NFL coaches, players and officials, Dungy said, "If God had talked to me before James' death and said his death would have helped all these people, it would have saved them and healed their sins, but I would have to take your son, I would have said no, I can't do that.

"But God had the same choice 2,000 years ago with His Son, Jesus Christ, and it paved the way for you and me to have eternal life. That's the benefit I got, that's the benefit James got, and that's the benefit you can get if you accept Jesus into your heart today as your Savior."

Many have referred to Coach Tony Dungy as the "classiest coach in the NFL." I think it's much more than class that shines through this man, it's Jesus.

To read the BP News article from last year's AIA Super Bowl Breakfast, follow the link below.

Source: BP News, Colts.com

Have a "super" day!

Hugs, Happiness and Harmony,

Julie