Tony Dungy Calls Out Profanity in Coaching, Says ‘Coaches Have Been Brainwashed’
- Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Dec 10, 2024
Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster Tony Dungy is challenging the prevalence of swearing in the NFL, saying too many coaches falsely believe it’s the only way to relate to players. The NBC analyst and Super Bowl-winning coach made the comments on X (formerly Twitter), noting that many coaches from the past -- himself included -- chose not to swear.
“Somehow coaches have been brainwashed into thinking that young people can only relate to them if they use profanity,” Dungy wrote. “That’s not the case but a lot of people believe that.”
It absolutely can be done Andrew. But somehow coaches have been brainwashed into thinking that young people can only relate to them if they use profanity. That’s not the case but a lot of people believe that. https://t.co/1IDqo40zhG
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) December 6, 2024
Dungy’s remarks were in response to a post by Andrew Brandt, who wrote, “I challenge NFL head coaches to give post-game locker room speeches without using the word ‘f***ing’ every sentence.” Brandt is executive director of the Moorad Center at Villanova University. Dungy also was responding to a question from Sports Spectrum’s Jason Romano, who asked if current NFL coaches are capable of taming their tongues.
“I played for Chuck Noll & Bill Walsh, and I can tell you they didn’t speak derogatorily to anyone,” Dungy wrote of two Hall of Fame coaches. “Profanity wasn’t part of their M.O.
I played for Chuck Noll & Bill Walsh and I can tell you they didn’t speak derogatorily to anyone. Profanity wasn’t part of their M.O. I had good friends who played for Tom Landry & Joe Gibbs and they would tell you the same thing. That’s 12 Super Bowl Championships talking to…
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) December 7, 2024
“I had good friends who played for Tom Landry & Joe Gibbs, and they would tell you the same thing,” he said of other Hall of Fame coaches. “That’s 12 Super Bowl Championships talking to players like men and not relying on profanity. I’m sure there are more but that’s 12 that I know of for sure. You could throw in the Colts in SB XLI and make it 13.”
Cursing by coaches, Dungy noted, isn’t merely an NFL problem.
“I’ve heard some of the worst language from coaches at middle school and high school games,” he wrote.
A coach can yell without cursing, Dungy said.
“We’re talking about the use of profanity. What you say. Not how loud you say it.”
When pressed on the issue, Dungy pointed to Scripture.
“If you’re asking if I think profanity is appropriate by anyone in any situation I would say no. My guide is the Bible,” he wrote in response to one question. ‘Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ Ephesians 4:29. NLT.”
As I said the question was asked about coaches. I answered the question. If you’re asking if politicians should use profanity I would say no. If you’re asking if I think profanity is appropriate by anyone in any situation I would say no. My guide is the Bible.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) December 7, 2024
“Don’t use foul…
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Mitchell Leff/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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