Tony Dungy’s opinions are starting to catch up with him. One of the most prestigious members of the elite NFL club, the coaching legend comes from a long history of legendary coaches. His most recent criticism, though, is based on some hate speech he publicly spoke more than ten years ago. Now, a two-part exposé on the anti-LGBT history and present of coach and current NBC Sports pundit Tony Dungy has been published by OutSports, a gay sports website connected to SB Nation.

The first section of the article claims that Dungy raised money at the Indiana Family Institute (IFI) while receiving recognition at the group’s “Friends of the Family Banquet,” presenting receipts from 2006, when he was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, to oppose homosexual marriage equality.

“I appreciate the stance [IFI is] taking, and I embrace that stance,” Dungy said of the organization opposing same-sex marriage. “IFI is saying what the Lord says. You can take that and make your decision on which way you want to be. I’m on the Lord’s side.”

Then he publicly discussed Jason Collins, a gay NBA player, saying that he disagreed with his “lifestyle” and wasn’t in favor of Michael Sam becoming the first openly gay NFL player. “I wouldn’t have taken him,” Dungy told the Tampa Tribune when asked if he would have drafted Sam. “Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it. It’s not going to be totally smooth … things will happen.”

You and I disagree about whether LGBTQ is a lifestyle. But that has nothing to do with how I “treat people”. There was a lot more in my comments in that story that never got written. But that happens a lot. We’re seeing that today.

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) June 7, 2020

In a debate on Twitter in 2020, Dungy appeared to still hold onto the notion that being gay is a lifestyle. – Steve Sijenyi