Formal rival coach reportedly visited Patriots’ OTAs
Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy attended the New England Patriots organized team activities on Thursday, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Dungy, a longtime head coach of the rival Indianapolis Colts, came to address the team. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has often talked about collaboration and being open to various perspectives that can ultimately help the team improve.
There’s obviously only good that can come from hearing the perspective from one of the all-time greats. Dungy is also said to have a “strong” relationship with Patriots special teams legend Matthew Slater, who has joined the coaching staff as an adviser.
Reiss wrote:
Former NFL head coach and current NBC “Football Night in America” analyst Tony Dungy visited Patriots practice on Thursday, addressing the team. Mayo has said he is open to various perspectives as he embarks on his head-coaching career, and Dungy’s presence is an example of him acting on that. Dungy also has a strong faith-based connection with Matthew Slater, who is serving as a right-hand man to Mayo.
Dungy and former Patriots coach Bill Belichick were often pitted against one another during the epic Peyton Manning-Tom Brady battles.
Who would have ever thought Dungy would be speaking to a new generation of Patriots players looking to rebuild the dynasty that kept his Colts from winning more than one Super Bowl?
