Tony Dungy and his spouse, Lauren Dungy, are parents to eleven children: eight adopted children and three biological children. Jordan Dungy, one of their five sons, has a rare genetic disease that has prevented him from walking, and the eldest son James, who was eighteen, committed suicide.
Born on October 6, 1955, Anthony Kevin Dungy, better known as Tony Dungey, was a former professional football coach and safety.
During his 13 seasons as an NFL head coach, Dungy led the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Additionally, under his direction, his teams consistently qualified for the postseason, missing the playoffs just twice with Tampa Bay.
In Super Bowl XLI, he guided the Colts to victory, becoming the first African American head coach to win the championship.
Ever since he retired, Dungy has been an analyst on Football Night in America on NBC.
In addition, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 and serves as the national spokesperson for the fatherhood initiative All Pro Dad.
Tony Dungy recently attracted a lot of attention when he was seen with his son Jordan during the Sunday Tampa Bay vs. Cowboys game.
A lot of Bucs fans out at AT&T Stadium including Tony Dungy's son, Jordan. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pCQRsyJGNW
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 23, 2024
In addition, viewers wanted to know what had happened to Tony Dungy’s son because his health appeared poor, and he used a wheelchair.
Jordan Dungy is in a Wheelchair Because of a Rare Disease Called Epidermolysis Bullosa
Tony and Lauren Dungy have five son together, whose names are James, Jordan, Eric, Justin, and Jason.
Their oldest son, James Dungey, who was born on January 6, 1987, lost his life by self-harm.
Sadly, on December 22, 2005, James, then eighteen, hanged himself from a bedroom ceiling fan wearing a leather belt in his room.
In addition to the difficult loss of his eldest son, Tony also had to deal with the diagnosis of a rare disability in his other son, Jordan.
Happy 21st Birthday to our remarkable son Jordan. He’s had his share of physical challenges but God has blessed him in an amazing way. His heart to serve others has impacted our entire family. Have a great day Jordan. You are a real blessing to us Psalm 123:7 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/DmCqTszSe8
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) August 12, 2021
Born on August 12, 2000, Jordan Dungy was diagnosed with a rare, incurable genetic condition two years later.
In addition, he had anhidrosis, a congenital condition that causes patients to have low pain thresholds and high fevers.
Note that Jordan is currently in a wheelchair due to a condition known as epidermolysis bullosa.
Jordan Dungy began to develop painful blisters on his own as a result of his incurable disability/disease.
Additionally, Tony’s son had health, speech, and behavioral delays that caused him a lot of trouble as a child.
According to what Tony disclosed, the doctors told them that Jordan would not survive past early childhood and that there was no chance he would lead a normal life.
Nevertheless, Tony continued to care for Jordan and treated him like a normal child, never giving up on him.
In 2020, he proudly wrote on Twitter that Jordan is a college student with no plans for the future and aspires to be a chef.
Eric Dungy, Tony Dungy’s Son, is an Entrepreneur and Former Collegiate Football Player
Tony Dungey’s middle child, Eric Dungy, played football for the University of South Florida as a wide receiver.
Additionally, he had a successful football career in high school and college, but following graduation, he began his business journey.
Interestingly, Eric works at Compass Real Estate’s Sports & Entertainment division and is the CEO of Greenwood Developments.
Additionally, Eric focuses on sports and entertainment clients while representing buyers, sellers, and investors at all levels.
In addition to his athletic experience, Eric has a background in sociology and entrepreneurship, which have helped him succeed as a real estate advisor.
Additional Information
- Tony Dungy was born and reared in Jackson, Michigan, the son of Cleomae Dungy, a Shakespeare teacher at Jackson High School, and Wilbur Dungy, a science professor at Jackson College.
- Dungy won a Super Bowl, making him the first African American head coach in history.
- It is estimated that Tony Dungy is worth $14 million.