Days after his universally-panned performance calling Saturday’s AFC Wild Card game between Jacksonville and Los Angeles for NBC, former NFL coach Tony Dungy caused a stir with his controversial tweet promoting a debunked anti-trans myth, claiming that certain school districts have provided litter boxes for students who identify as cats. Comedian Joe Rogan made a similar assertion on his podcast last year, only to be caught in a lie, offering a tepid Mea culpa weeks later.
The tweet wasn’t up for long, suggesting Dungy was either told to take it down, or reached that conclusion on his own. Either way, Dungy has yet to offer an apology, nor has NBC, with no acknowledgement from either party. Rather than get off social media, the 67-year-old has continued to tweet, announcing he and his wife’s participation in the upcoming “March for Life,” an annual anti-abortion rally held in Washington D.C.
This isn’t the first time Sunday Night Football has faced public backlash with sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya presenting similarly outspoken views before her departure last year, defending anti-vaxxers during a chaotic appearance on The View while also opposing Critical Race Theory’s (CRT) inclusion in school curriculums. Highlighting the hypocrisy of Dungy having immunity to speak his mind on Twitter without fear of repercussion, Craig Calcaterra, who was part of NBC’s mass layoffs in 2020, recalls being scolded for tweeting about Syrian refugees, with network executives begging him to “let it go.”
Those on social media were understandably frustrated, both with Dungy and with NBC for sweeping it under the rug, showing zero accountability for an offensive tweet spreading dangerous misinformation.
After working as a color analyst alongside play-by-play veteran Al Michaels last week, Dungy will return to his usual studio role for NBC’s Divisional Round matchup between the top-ranked Chiefs and visiting Jaguars Saturday at Kansas City.
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