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Indianapolis Colts Coach Dungy's Son Dies

POSTED: 8:13 am MST December 22, 2005
UPDATED: 11:29 am MST December 22, 2005

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy's son James, 18, was found dead in an apartment near Tampa on Thursday morning.

Police said there were no signs of foul play, but did not confirm if the cause of death was suicide. A spokeswoman in the local sheriff's office said a cause of death won't be announced until after an autopsy.

Police said Dungy's girlfriend called them at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Dungy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian addressed the media late Thursday morning.

"This is a tragedy for the Dungy family and, by extension, for his football family of the Colts," Polian said. "Tony made it clear to both myself and to Jim that he wished for the organization to carry on, and we will. We have the best role model in the world with Tony Dungy."

Assistant coach Jim Caldwell will take over for Dungy until the Colts coach returns to the team. Polian said Dungy will have all the time that he needs.

The news was shared with the team Thursday morning in a meeting Polian described as somber. The Colts have made a chaplain available to anyone in the organization.

Polian said the team would conduct business as usual, per Dungy's wishes.

James Dungy was a 2005 graduate of North Central High School in Indianapolis. He had been taking extension classes at the University of South Florida.

NFL.com reported that Tony Dungy was headed to Florida.

Tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren, have four other children: daughters Tiara and Jade, and sons Eric and Jordan.

Dungy sometimes allowed his sons, James and his younger brother, Eric, to watch the Colts games from the sidelines. The Indianapolis Star said the boys had to earn the sidelines spot by getting good grades.

High School Principal C.E. Quandt said James Dungy was a personable student who never flaunted his father's position in the community.

The Colts are 13-1 and have a game in Seattle on Saturday.

Fans Offer Prayers

Colts fans are posting prayers and messages of support for coach Tony Dungy on a message board on a Colts fan Web site.

Dungy previously coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

One Tampa Bay fan wrote that Dungy was not only a great coach for the Bucs but "an even better person." Another person wrote asking God to give strength to Dungy during this difficult time.


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