Tony Dungy attributes NBC departure to religious beliefs and views

Former National Football League head coach Tony Dungy stated that he believes his Christian faith and pro-life stance caused his departure from NBC Sports in early 2026. Fox News reported that Dungy discussed his exit during an appearance on The Sage Steele Show. NBC and Dungy parted ways after he had served as a television analyst for the network for several years. [1][2]

Dungy explained to podcast host Sage Steele that network officials were fully aware of his personal convictions. Fox News reported that Dungy expressed no regret over holding firm to his religious beliefs during his time with the network. [1]

Dungy served 13 seasons as an NFL head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts. He became the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl after leading the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI. Steele is a former ESPN anchor who spent 16 years at the network, hosting programs such as SportsCenter and NBA Countdown. [4][5][8]

Separate reporting from Pro Football Network noted that Dungy has recently faced public scrutiny from fans over his silence regarding his Hall of Fame vote for Bill Belichick. [3]