NBC football analyst and former NFL coach Tony Dungy is under fire by some on Twitter over comments he made after the Eagles Super Bowl win on QB Nick Foles and Christianity.
Dungy tweeted after the game, “Congratulations to the Eagles. Nick Foles told me last week that he felt the Lord had him in Philadelphia for a special moment and he played like it tonight.”
Congratulations to the Eagles. Nick Foles told me last week that he felt the Lord had him in Philadelphia for a special moment and he played like it tonight. pic.twitter.com/BgYvucnK6Q
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 5, 2018
No big deal, right? Well, wrong…
This twitter user called it “unbelievable you would use your employer, @NBCSports, to spout this nonsense on the air”:
@TonyDungy unbelievable you would use your employer, @NBCSports, to spout this nonsense on the air. @TweetofGod
— € (@eladler) February 5, 2018
And here’s Dungy’s amazing response:
NBC pays me to express my opinion. And it was my opinion that Nick Foles would play well because his Christian faith would allow him to to play with confidence. And that he’s a good QB. I think I was right on both counts. https://t.co/4HOfXt78UZ
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 6, 2018
More criticism of Dungy for adding Christianity to his “football analysis”:
https://twitter.com/StephStradley/status/960902024626888704
And another amazing response from the Super Bowl winning coach:
Why would you find it hard to believe that the Holy Spirit could speak to Nick Foles just as much as a coach could speak to him? If he credited a coach for saying “Stay calm and be confident” that’s good. But if he tells me Christ says that to him I shouldn’t report it??? https://t.co/I7P4IU26GH
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 6, 2018
Why is this even controversial?
Anyone who doubts the role of faith in athletic achievement never saw Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman. Faith in a higher power unlocks the mind and body to do incredible things. https://t.co/6puVgUQv5U
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) February 6, 2018
Awesome. https://t.co/DDc3lm0ibE
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) February 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/colonel_potter/status/961059521480323072
Everything you said was 100% accurate. Never shy away. If people don't want to hear what you have to say they can change the channel or hit the unfollow button. https://t.co/A7X939TXlI
— Matt Kardos (@mattkardos) February 6, 2018
I like everything about this (and I'm questioning agnostic). https://t.co/CYjfFkYlPW
— Blame Big Government (@BlameBigGovt) February 6, 2018
Others questioned how Dungy would report on a player who didn’t believe in God. Again, more great answers:
You don’t know me well enough then. If NBC sent me to do a story on you I would report exactly what you told me. I wouldn’t try to paint you as something you’re not. Can we do the same for the Christian players?
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 6, 2018
If that’s what he told me I would report it. That’s my job. I wouldn’t have to agree with it, just as you don’t have to agree with Nick.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 6, 2018
Was it this so hard for people to understand?
Didn’t say that at all. Is that how you interpreted it? I said Nick Foles played well when he took over because he had an inner strength and confidence that wasn’t rooted in his own abilities. That’s all!
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 6, 2018
More of this, please:
Amen and thank you for being open minded even when we might not agree.
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 6, 2018
Well said.
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