Philadelphia Eagles Rumor: Tony Dungy To Become Their New Defensive Coordinator?

With all the speculation going on about who's going to be the next Eagles DC, I started to think of a candidate that would prove to not only bolster our defense, but our team as a whole.

I want to pull Tony Dungy out of retirement to coach our defense. Perhaps him being out of football has given him the "itch" to coach again, but this time with less responsibility.

Dungy has close ties to Michael Vick and this could also be a selling point to the entire organization because he is an excellent mentor (Rehabilitation of a possible Haynesworth signing if he's dumped by the Redskins??).

Dungy is famous for the Tampa Two (4-3 defense) and winning the Super Bowl while head coach of the Colts (4-3 defense). He did an awesome job with the Vikings (4-3 defense) back in 1992 (top rated defense in the NFL). One key component was his success with outstanding pass rushing DT's (Tampa had Sapp and Vikings had John Randle).

Could Haynesworth be this guy if released?

Definitely an interesting idea.. But who knows?

Here is his coaching progression at a glance:

Following his NFL experience as a player, Dungy was invited to become an assistant coach for his alma mater, the University of Minnesota in 1980. After one season in charge of the defensive backs, he was asked to come back to the NFL as a coach. He was hired as an assistant coach with the Steelers by Chuck Noll, his former coach in 1981. His work under Noll put Dungy in the Sid Gillman coaching tree.

In 1982, he was named defensive backfield coach and was promoted in 1984 to defensive coordinator.

He left the Steelers in 1989 to become the defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and took over the defensive coordinator position for the Minnesota Vikings under Dennis Green in 1992.

While at Minnesota, Dungy's defense was ranked first in the NFL.

Dungy is listed as not only a part of the Bill Walsh coaching tree, but also a part of the Marty Schottenheimer coaching tree. The Dungy tree grew from the roots of the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.

He was influenced by the defensive schemes learned under Chuck Noll and Bud Carson (who was the Eagles DC in 1991 where we were ranked: No. 1 versus the pass, No. 1 versus the rush and No. 1 overall). Dungy said that he inherited most of the coaching philosophies from Noll and he is proud to be a protege of Noll.

Dungy has ties with the Eagles and a good relationship with Reid and Lurie. He was probably the main reason why they have Vick to begin with. And who's to say he wouldn't relish in the fact that he could do for our defense, what he did for our offense in Vick becoming an Eagle?

Throw in the fact that Vick could also be persuasive in getting Dungy to reconsider his retirement. Dungy could also help out with the further development of Vick as a person, as well as another possible player who might be wearing midnight green when all is said and done (Haynesworth).

Now, before everyone starts ripping this idea, let's realize one thing—you cannot take anything Andy Reid says at face value. Usually, he's just posturing himself and the organization for their next BIG move.

So when Andy tells the team they no interest in this candidate or the next, those statements have as much validity with me, as Brett Farve saying he's actually retiring for good.

With this fact in view, maybe we as educated Eagles' fans, should start thinking a little more out of the norm, straying away from what the media is feeding us, and channel what the Fat Man may be scheming in his mind.

Tony Dungy to the Philadelphia Eagles could happen, don't be surprised!