Tony Dungy's Son Dies of Apparent Suicide

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LUTZ, Fla. - James Dungy, the 18-year-old son of
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, was found dead of an apparent suicide early Thursday, the sheriff's office said.

James Dungy's girlfriend found him when she returned to the Campus Lodge Apartments at about 1:30 a.m., Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

"Based on evidence at the scene, indications are that this death appears to be a suicide," Carter said. She said an autopsy was pending.

Dungy wasn't breathing when he was found, Carter said. A sheriff's deputy performed CPR before an ambulance took him to University Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Tony Dungy took the team plane from Indianapolis to Tampa, Fla., where he had coached the Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001.

The Colts (13-1) travel to Seattle for a game Saturday, and team president Bill Polian said assistant head coach Jim Caldwell will take over "for however long Tony will be away, and however long he will be away is entirely up to him."

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone in this building are with Tony and (wife) Lauren, their children and their extended family, and for the repose of James' soul," Polian said at a news conference at the team's training facility in Indianapolis. "This is a tragedy for the Dungy family and by extension for his football family here with the Colts."

Dungy is immensely popular around the NFL and known for his soft-spoken style, ever-steady leadership and commitment to balancing family life with football

[RIPODB 954]

RIP James Dungy.