Tony Dungy says that being a father is his most important job, and with six children, it’s a job that keeps him very busy.  Since his retirement from the NFL in January, Coach Dungy and his wife, Lauren, are enjoying their first real “off season” from professional football at their home in Tampa.

Coach Dungy’s fatherhood role model is his own dad, Wilber Dungy. Tony grew up in Michigan, and says his father was always there to support him and encourage him. From him, Tony says, he learned that being a good father takes commitment and compassion.

Quite simply, Coach Dungy loves being a dad.  He says a good friend gave him some very important advice years ago, that he still tries to live by. The advice is this: fathers need to cherish whatever stage their children are in instead of wishing for the next one to hurry up and get here, because before you know it, that stage will be over, never to return again.