THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS - Tony Dungy has retired after seven years as coach of the Indianapolis Colts, saying this was right moment.
"These seven years have been better than I could ever have imagined," Dungy, the only black coach to win a Super Bowl, said at a news conference Monday. "I just have to thank everyone."
He will be replaced by associate coach Jim Caldwell.
Dungy, 53, has spent the past five years debating whether to leave football to spend more time with his family. He said he and his wife discussed the decision.
"We just felt this was the right time," Dungy said. "Don't shed any tears for me. I got to live a dream most people don't get to live."
Dungy is the Colts' franchise leader in victories. He went 85-27 in the regular season and 7-6 in the playoffs, including the victory over Chicago in the 2007 Super Bowl.
"You don't always get to go out on top," Dungy said, "and it's hard to go out on top."
The plan to have Caldwell replace Dungy as the Colts' coach was put in place last year when the coach pondered retirement. Caldwell joined Dungy's staff in Tampa Bay in 2001, then moved with Dungy to the Colts in 2002 as the quarterbacks coach. A year ago, Caldwell was elevated to associate head coach, though he continued to coach Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi.
"He is ready, he's more than ready," Dungy said. "He's going to do a great job."
Dungy's decision comes a little more than a week after the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs. He spoke to several of his players Monday, including Manning.
"That's the tough part," Dungy said. "That's been the emotionally draining part of today."
He has spent the past five years debating whether to leave football, each year taking about a week to meet with his family, who now lives in Tampa.
"I'm going to be a Colt forever," Dungy said, adding that he plans to still spend quite a bit of time in Indianapolis.
The decision ends a tenure in Indianapolis during which Dungy led the Colts to the playoffs all seven seasons, winning five division titles and appearing in two AFC title games.
