Report: Tony Dungy Said Bucs Should Have Taken A Knee Instead Of Extending Mike Evans’ Streak
January 12th, 2025
Shame on Father Dungy.
The Buccaneers Ring of Honor head coach (1996-2001) lives in Tampa and knows all about Mike Evans and all things Bucs, but it seems he still couldn’t pull himself from his conservative football roots last week.
A member of the Sunday Night Football crew for NBC, Dungy often watches afternoon games with his NBC colleagues before the Sunday night broadcast.
It seems that’s what happened a week ago. Fellow NBC analyst Rodney Harrison said he watched the game with Dungy and they had a disagreement about the Bucs throwing to extend Mike Evans’ record streak of 1,000-yard seasons.
Taking a knee instead would have sealed a trip to the playoffs.
“In that moment, Coach Dungy was saying, ‘Oh, no, you don’t give him the pass. There’s no way. It could be an interception,'” Harrison said on an NBC preview of tonight’s playoff game.
“I said, ‘Coach, it’s bigger than that.’ I said, ‘It’s bigger than that. If they don’t get this man this record, this team is going to be affected by it. They know how hard [Evans] works, how much of a productive player he’s been. This is very important to that team.’
“And for them to get him that record and be that excited for him, that’s the culture that Todd Bowles has built.”
Harrison went on to rant about how Bowles has built a true team and a dangerous team. “He continues to make them a competitive team that you have to respect.”
January 12th, 2025 at 9:54 am
They are both correct. I’m glad Mike got his catch.
January 12th, 2025 at 9:55 am
I was at the games when he coached here.
He’s a good man, and built a better culture.
But he was always a bit of a dumbas*
His coaching in the playoffs was the worst strategies I’ve ever witnessed.
I respect him, but celebrated when then they fired him
January 12th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Dungy always conservative he hasn’t coached in 20 years the game passed him
By
January 12th, 2025 at 9:58 am
By the book and Dungy Ball… but that spontaneous moment for the whole team is the intangible part of team chemistry that can not be measured.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Bowles seems to know how to get a team to build and peak going into the playoffs. I am not sure Dungy was ever like that. Steady Eddy, by the book, and usually out in the first or second round.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Rodney is dead on ! and the fans love it too. It clearly inspired the team ,hope it still in their heads.
clearly would have
January 12th, 2025 at 10:16 am
The football Gods took mercy upon Dungy’s soul of gold and gifted him Peyton Manning to ride off into the NFL Hall of Fame
January 12th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Evans wouldn’t even be sniffing 1,000 yards to have this controversy under a Dungy-led regime. Les Steckle would have us run-run-pass-punt every drive and ME13 would be a perennial 650yard receiver instead of the stud he is.
I love ya Dungy, but come on dude. Why run the ball? There could be a fumble! Why even play the game? Someone could get hurt! Jeez Louise….
January 12th, 2025 at 10:17 am
Well he does wear a ring. There is that.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Well, eff him then
January 12th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Love Tony Dungy. He is a great man and was an effective coach. Unfortunately, he is still too conservative. Bowles made the right decision. He has evolved.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:20 am
yeah this isn’t 1996…this is 2024………actually 2025…
that take a knee decision was not going to fly over here – from the bottom of the organization to the top…everyone wanted it…including ownership (it seems)…the 3 million dollar catch was a vital piece of this season – and it seems the organization followed mike the whole way through, all the way to the locker room, with a serious video…yes because everyone was backing big mike – as they should…
but yeah, taking a knee there and deflating everything, would have been sooooo dungy………..omg
January 12th, 2025 at 10:21 am
Without one of the greatest QBs ever he would not of won a Super Bowl. He’s too conservative. Great man though!
January 12th, 2025 at 10:23 am
and if baker tosses an int that’s taken back for a pic 6…then you have a garo yepremian type play that lives on in league infamy, as it should…forever………..and you get persecuted for it…forever…lol
January 12th, 2025 at 10:23 am
The Aints were expecting the run, so the pass was the best play call anyway. You’ve got to trust Big Mike and Baker to execute a very low risk play that they have practiced a thousand times
January 12th, 2025 at 10:24 am
That’s why he was fired
January 12th, 2025 at 10:27 am
What a jackass. No wonder he squandered years of talented players.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:28 am
The Saints knew what was coming and why. They were just as aware of the situation as the rest of the NFL.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:39 am
A Head Coach must build a culture and capture team chemistry anyway he can. Teams don’t win without it. A coach must fully
take advantage of those opportunities when they present themselves.He also must have a pulse for what his players are feeling. Say what you want but I agree with Harrison.If you saw the moment you observed the players all coming together for their teammate. While the game was the goal that moment for the team took precadent! If he had not given the ok for that, in my opinion the loss of morale would have been deafening. He would have completely defeated winning the game and lost his players. Sorry Coach, sometimes you must showthe players , yes , you really are team of 1.In that moment Bowles showed that and cemented a team!!!.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Loved Tony Dungy and what he brought to the Buccaneers who were woeful at best and miserable before he came aboard. He taught the team to respect themselves and showed them how to have basic things, like confidence that they could win a game. Any game, the old school way through diligence, hard work and hard work. He built the family unit to a Buc’s team that never felt united. I have great respect for this man and what he did for the team. But when we got to the top of the peak, we just couldn’t get over it, so we brought in Gruden. It was Tony’s team that won that Super Bowl, but Gruden’s “true grit” that got us to the Super Bowl and won it, finally.
January 12th, 2025 at 10:47 am
right about now dungy is standing on a “tiny little tuft of an island” all by himself in the middle of the “gulf of america” with his boneheaded opinion…
while the rest of bucs nation is supporting big mike and the ballzy decision to go for the 3 million dollar catch…
yes everyone else in tampa was backing big mike – as they should
(otherwise, respect to tony dungy…the original culture changer here, as we went from creamsicle to red and pewter)
January 12th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Love Father Dungy. But his time has come and gone.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Actually saying it was Dungys’ team that Gruden put over the top is a bit of a stretch as Bucs roster changed 22 players in Jons’ 1st year-in other words over 41% of the team was different.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Tony Dungy should have improved the Buccaneers offense when he coached here because the window was wide open from 1998 until the second that he got fired. He had a Super Bowl ready defense for five straight years and insisted on running a high school offense. So…
January 12th, 2025 at 11:03 am
I was honestly thinking that Bowles was going to have them take a knee. And hoping that, in the huddle, Baker would say “screw that!, Mikes getting his yards!”
I’m not entirely sure that that isn’t what happened.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:13 am
Mike Evans would NEVER have had ONE season of 1,000 yards under Dungy. This record was almost lost by coaching decisions (he could have played later in the Panthers game, he could have had more targets earlier, he should have not taken the penalty that cost Evans 6 yards). All that said, the teams should always sacrifice for the leader that always sacrifices for them.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Coming from a fella who iced his own kicker in Green Bay…dive-bombing that season and his career in Tampa. Heck of a human though…and did many good things overall.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:17 am
And that I why he was replaced, was the D coordinator of the Colts, Manning ran that offense and would shake Dungy off when he wanted to go for it on 4th down….. kinda embarrassing really.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Tony Dungy needs to mind his business
January 12th, 2025 at 11:26 am
I agree with most everyone about Dungy’s opinion. What I found was the almost unbelievable stat that when Mike got his 1000+ yards it gave Mayfield 4500 yards passing exactly! I bet he didn’t even know that when he threw to Mike.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Dungy is just wrong. Way more good to getting Mike the record t h an the slight chance of a turnover there. Not playing scared and team confidence is a huge boost. Lay back down in your coffin Tony.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:27 am
My respect for Bowles increased significantly. Dungy is an awesome guy but totally disagree with that. Team chemistry is everything.
Also – this was – take a knee or not. There was no run coming.
You throw that ball to Mike 3 times you have too.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:28 am
Dungy is the Jimmy Carter of coaching, always wrong.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:30 am
who dat?…th f k outta here
January 12th, 2025 at 11:36 am
Dungy’s offense was 90% taking a knee when he was here. Most conservative coach ever.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:45 am
He’s right. Evans had 16 games and didn’t make it. 17th games does not count (3 of his 1,000 yards he needed 17 games).
January 12th, 2025 at 11:51 am
@HeyJude
“Bowles made the right decision. He has evolved.”
BINGO! Evolution is what has won me over with Todd. I was not a fan at the beginning because I assumed he’d always be another Dungy. I was wrong.
BTW Jude I read you and Vanessa’s posts with great respect. Am I mistaken or like Vanessa are you one of our fantastic ladies who post here, I thought I read that early on but I may be mistaken. It wouldn’t be the first time!
Whatever your gender I admire your posts free of all the hyperbole and insults.
January 12th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Now that streak is good history and we can concentrate on not forcing it to Evans in double coverage. If Lattimore gets Mike wrapped and Evans cannot free himself then accept it and throw to Bucky, Jalen or a tight end.
January 12th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Great thread. Good point Bucsfan – Gruden won with Gruden’s team. The OL was very different, McCardell, Jurevicius, Dilfer, Pittman all made huge contributions. If someone wants to make the lazy argument that Gruden won with Dungy’s team, the snarky response is, Dungy couldn’t win with Dungy’s team, so…..
Respect to coach for greenlighting the last play against the Saints.
January 12th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
No risk it, no biscuit Dungy…
Rewatch that last Mike Evans catch, Saints defenders LET him get that 5 yards. Class move if you ask me.
January 12th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
I still don’t understand why Dungy is in our ring of honor.
He was a halfway decent coach who had a world class defensive coordinator.
Those 5 years were led by an insane defense, the rest of the team was so-so (save for maybe Mike Alstott).
He also crapped the bed every time in the post season.
We got better when we got rid of him.
January 12th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Thank you, stpetebucsfan. Appreciate the compliment. Yes, I am another woman on JBF. orlfan is another lady that posts on here too.
Always enjoy your comments too!
January 12th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Statistics tell you that you do not throw Mike the ball, everyone knows that. But players are more than statistics, they’re at the mercy of emotional whims, having your team make it to the playoffs by the skin of their teeth whilst also being the first unit in Evans entire career to not get him the 1000yrds? The mental impact that could have on the players would be too detrimental to risk.
January 12th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Sean peyton converted a fake punt only to punt 4 plays lated lol
January 12th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Ultimately Dungy was fired because his teams were to conservative on offense. Great coach that changed the losing culture in Tampa Bay but stubbornly conservative.
January 12th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
I am very glad Mike got his 1000 yards, so I cannot say it was the wrong decision. But what would we all be saying if it had backfired resulting in a loss? We’ll never know. And that is just fine with me.
January 12th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
Bill
That’s about as good of a short synopsis of Tony’s career as could be written.
I’m with Admiral Farragut, “damn the torpedoes full speed ahead”.
This is why I was not a BOWLes fan in the beginning. I saw what you have just written about Tony in Todd.
But this season with confidence in his OC/QB combo Todd has evolved.
Everybody talks about the unnecessary dangerous pass to ME for the record when taking a knee would have secured a win, but I was actually more impressed when he went for it 4th and long with about 10 minutes left if I recall correctly. That was a move that took a “Farragut” mentality.
And he started taking the ball after winning a coin toss instead of deferring.
Nobody is perfect. All of us need to learn from our mistakes. At least Todd seems to be trying and that’s what’s earned my respect.
January 12th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
This is one of the reasons he got himself fired. Also he’s lucky all this social media wasn’t around when he was coaching. He’d have to explain alot for his players and the things he let slide.
January 12th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
I think what Tony is missing here is that everyone on that team and most of the fans would have swallowed that pick-6 knowing the who we were trying to get the record for. That choice to do that builds culture.
Mike has given everything to this team without complaining. He deserved that shot. And Liam dialed the safest throw, except that the Saints knew who the ball was going to. I could have lived with a pick-6 and a loss knowing it was for Mike. I would have been more devastated that his steak would end.
On so many lousy Bucs seasons, Mike was the one thing we could rally around.
January 12th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
GP Says:
January 12th, 2025 at 11:03 am
I was honestly thinking that Bowles was going to have them take a knee. And hoping that, in the huddle, Baker would say “screw that!, Mikes getting his yards!”
I’m not entirely sure that that isn’t what happened.
____________________________________________________
Anything to hate on Bowles huh?
They all said Bowles was pushing to get Mike the record and the defense was trying to get the ball back for it.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Well, Yah… EVERYONE knows that, but WHY say it all though, if you are HIM!? Ridiculous. 💯 You had to give him a shot there.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
I’m sure he had by little (if anything at all) to do with the Offense, but I bet that he and Manning had prob had it out a time or two, goin’ around and around at each other’s (throats) differences.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
@Bucsministerfuller, I agree that Monte Kiffin WAS a great coordinator, but Dungy played an instrumental role in creating that defense, utilizing concepts he picked up from his days in Pittsburg.
In the 14 seasons before Tony Dungy became head coach for the Bucs the team won 5 or fewer games in 9 of those 14 seasons. The MOST they ever won during that period was 7 games, and that was just once.
Dungy dramatically changed the culture and mindset of that team. I know firsthand because I did business with many of the players back at that time. Tampa had the most pathetic franchise in the NFL and Dungy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame just for turning them around and helping create the Tampa 2 Defense which many other teams later attempted to copy.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Same here Capt. Tim.
There’s a reason why he only has one Super Bowl as a coach and he has Rex Grossman to thank for that. He should have had at least two rings as a coach when he had Peyton Manning in his prime.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Gruden did win with Dungy’s. Gruden couldn’t win with GRUDEN’S team. When he brought in the Raiders East ( Charlie Garner, Tim Brown, etc.) and others, he couldn’t win. Then you get rid of Sapp, Lynch and not to mention GM Rick McKay were all instrumental in building what the Bucs had become. Ask yourselves this, how many playoff games did Gruden win after the Super Bowl season? I think that answer is 0. Now, how many playoff games did Gruden lose at home post Super Bowl? I think he was 0-2. Dungy was 2-0 in playoff games at home(Detroit 1997, Washington 1999). Dungy Changed the franchise’s trajectory, similar to how people have given Tom Brady credit for. Dungy is rightfully in the HOF and Bucs Ring of Honor. After the Super Bowl win Gruden put his imprint on the team. The team went backwards looking like teams prior Dungy. 18 years between Super Bowl 2002 to Super Bowl 2020.
With all that said, I’m glad Todd Bowles allowed Mike to get the record. He deserves it. The money was an after though. The record is what mattered most.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
So weak. Dungy is a human turtle. Still stubborn. Hasn’t learned a thing.
January 12th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
I think both parties were right. Because the danger of losing the game. But the general manager was on the side line. They had the owner’s phone number to his own box. And I believe that this is something that the owner did not only for the player but for all the players to show them that he really does care about them all. Yes it’s a business but it’s also a sport.
January 12th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
@Leighroy 😂😂Well put! *micdrop
January 12th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
And that’s why when Dungy went to the Colts it was made Crystal clear that he was the head coach, but leave the offense alone….Tom Moore/Peyton had that under control. Dungy was there to fix the D just like Gruden was in Tampa to fix the O. Both won Championships
January 12th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Had the Saints forced a fumble on that play ran it back for a TD and then executed a 2-point conversion, fans would be calling for Bowles head on a platter.
There was a real risk calling that play. But if Bowles ordered Mayfield to take a knee, fans would have been calling for his head then too. 😉 Bowles made the right decision IMO, but it wasn’t without risk.
January 12th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
I’m happy with the outcome, but taking a knee was the right call. Of that went wrong you’re looking at a new HC.
January 12th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
And that’s why the Bucs were right to fire him.
January 12th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
Dungy had 4 HOF players on offense in Indy.All he had to do was stay quiet and get the defense to make 2 or 3 stops a game and he was successful with colts.
January 12th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Get his arse out of the Ring of Honor NOW!!!
January 12th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
No they cannot both be right on this take. One is spot on and the other is woefully, extremely off base. If the Bucs would’ve taken a knee on the last play of the game with the Saints I do believe I would’ve been quite upset about it. The defense balled out and got us the ball back for one or two more plays. It almost felt like fate. I somehow knew we would win that game but when Mike got his 1K yards I was so happy, even happier than getting the win, as crazy as that sounds. I feel the emotion of the team and the fans were all in on the record. Mike is our pride and joy as Bucs fans and if we would’ve stiffed him on his historical record I would’ve wanted scalps. It was fated that we win, get to the playoffs and Mike get his record. Now that it’s all behind us I think we are ready to make a deep run in these playoffs.
January 12th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
At the end of the day the NfL is an entertainment product. Keeping milestone streaks alive and breaking records keeps fans interested and is good for the NFL’s business. I would not be the least bit surprised if, after the Bucs got the ball back, it was “understood” within both franchises that Mike was going to make that catch and would get the yards he needed.
January 12th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Getting sick of tech glitches. Bunch of BS in these comments. Thanks, heyjude.
January 12th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
Ya know, it was about as safe a pass as can be designed. The risk of a pick was about 0.0 percent.
And Dungy had his chance. Could not win it all. Gruden came in and replaced a big chunk of the roster. Then Dungy had one of the Top 5 QBs of all time and managed to win one SB. He’s due respect for some things, but his lack of emotion about the record and his uncanny similarity is why I call him Spock.
January 12th, 2025 at 7:17 pm
Okay, what does it take to get a comment on here?
January 12th, 2025 at 7:18 pm
Clyde Christensen and Mike Shula are two stinker OCs who got Dungy canned.
January 12th, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Nah. Passing to mike was the right call
January 12th, 2025 at 7:24 pm
Evans was there congratulating Bucky after his go ahead td. He wasn’t sulking about what looked like the end of the game. Good for the Bucs for being there for him.