FOR IMMEDIATE LIGHTING
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Jeff talks Saturday with TONY DUNGY FOR TONIGHT’S “AMERICAN NIGHT IN AMERICA”.
“Pretty quick. I still feel like it’s hard to catch my breath. I enjoyed it very much.” – On Saturday, the Colts’ interim head coach job was accepted
“My life was changed because of the Indianapolis Colts, so to repay that in any way…that’s the ultimate decider.” – Saturday
“That’s my job – to create and execute a vision, a direction, and then hold the guys accountable…” – Saturday on his role
Colts-Cowboys Coverage begins with Football Night in America at 7 pm ET; Followed by 8:20 pm ET Kickoff on NBC, Peacock and Universo
STAMFORD, Conn. – December 4, 2022 – Before tonight’s game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night FootballIndianapolis Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday talk to a Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungywho was the head coach of the Colts for seven seasons and won Super Bowl XLI, do Football Night in Americawhich begins at 7 pm ET on NBC and Peacock.
On Saturday, who played for Dungy in Indianapolis at center, he discussed his whirlwind hiring in Indianapolis, the reaction to him taking the job, what he’s learned so far, and more. Click here to see the full interview, parts of which will air tonight FNIA. Here are the highlights of the FULL interview:
Accepting the interim head coaching job of the Colts
“Pretty quick. I still feel like it’s hard to catch my breath. I enjoyed it well, it’s a ton of fun, but again, just unexpected, so trying to come up and figure it out on the fly. There were challenges, some of which I really enjoyed and some of which were a little different than I expected.”
He discussed the job offer with his wife, Karen, and finally accepted it
“She said, ‘Are you crazy? (laughter) Are you sure, are you crazy?’ … I think this is what it boiled down to the end that (for) I just cared about this organization. I don’t think people can understand how much you care about something you’ve been through. You know, my adulthood was forged here in this building…It was our family as long as I know everyone and I just felt strongly that if I can get help in any way . I told the guys when I came here, it’s because I care … My life was changed because of the Indianapolis Colts, so to repay that in any way … that was the final decision.”
On what he thought he could bring to the team
“Accountability. Because I was consulting with them…I knew what was going on. And I only knew my personality, in terms of energy, in terms of accountability. My biggest concern was probably the coaches and how would they respond to this? So, I felt strongly that I could get the players to buy in because I’ve lived that life and I know how important it is. What I didn’t know was the side you (Dungy) lived on, from your (training) life.
On what he told the coaches in his first meeting
“I hope you all understand, I’m here to empower you… I’m not the smartest coach by any means, I don’t pretend to know things I don’t. I’ll ask you for help, I’ll ask you for your opinion and I have no problem if you look at me and go, ‘Hey, this isn’t right or I see this differently.’ And I take this from you, that doesn’t mean I’m going to change my opinion (laughs), right? Because I learned that from you (Dungy), we had a lot of discussions where you would listen to me and shake your head and go, ‘I understand, I respect your thoughts. I’m not going to do it that way.”
On his leadership with the players and coaches
“I made sure everyone was comfortable that we were in it together and that this was a team. I believe wholeheartedly that my job is to support them from a day-to-day perspective, from an organizational perspective, that’s my job — to create and live a vision, direction, and then hold people accountable as much as I can. sure they’re doing what the coaches want them to do.”
On players and his prospects for this team to consider
“You and I both know that when you compete, enthusiasm and energy quickly follow. I’m not a scripted guy. I want to put people in the most uncomfortable positions they can be in. Whether you were or Jim Caldwell, I looked at those processes at work, and whether this process is important to my conversation with each of them, coaches and players. It’s not magic, it’s not going to happen tomorrow, right? In terms of expectations, I have very realistic expectations. There is a lot of work to be done, but the process is important… It is simple, but not easy. That’s really my conviction in what I’m doing.”
To his biggest surprise since he accepted the job
“Winnings. And when I say that, I say that as kindly as possible, but these things (laughs), right? It’s all this, it’s all the extra thing you’re asked to do that takes you out of meetings. And then it’s probably the biggest thing that I have to learn – and said (Colts GM Christopher) Ballard, Mike Tannenbaum he told me this, a lot of guys, Polish bill – they said the expectations you have from your players, to be able to breathe that into your players because that is not the norm. So if you expect these guys to do it this way, you have to teach them and train them because it’s not second nature.”
***
Football Night in America hosted by Maria Taylor and features a Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungytwo-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrisonformer NFL head coach Jason Garrettformer NFL quarterback Chris SimmsNFL Insider Mike Florioand a pioneer of the fantasy sports industry Matthew Berry. This week’s show is co-hosted by Jack Collinsworth.
Football Nightthe most watched studio show in sports since its debut in 2006, starting every Sunday at 7 pm ET. The coordinating producer of FNIA yes Matt Casey. FNIA directed by Kaare Numme.
– FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA –
