Tony Dungy blinked back tears, straining to compose himself. The Indianapolis Colts coach buried his eldest son, James, on Tuesday, lovingly recalling the 18-year-old who died in an apparent suicide last week as a “mama’s boy” with a “compassionate heart.” Someone who loved to smile and have fun.
“Parents hug your kids every chance you get,” he said. “Tell them you love them every chance you get because you don’t know when it’s going to be the last time.”
Dungy spoke for nearly 20 minutes during an emotional two-hour funeral service attended by NFL stars, past and present, league officials, including commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the entire Colts team and four other NFL head coaches – Herman Edwards, Dennis Green, Lovie Smith and Jack Del Rio – along with University of Washington coach Ty Willingham.
Hall of Famer Joe Greene and ex-Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green were also among the 2,000 mourners who came to Idlewild Baptist Church in this Tampa suburb.