NFL Pays Respects To Coach's Son

NFL stars past and present attended the funeral Tuesday of the teen son of Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy.

James Dungy, 18, died last week in an apparent suicide.

Flanked by a police escort, six charter buses carrying Indianapolis Colts players, coaches and staff streamed into the parking lot of the Idlewild Baptist Church in suburban Lutz.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning arrived separately.

Most of the Colts traveled to the funeral, as did former and current members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Dungy coached from 1996 to 2000. Among them were Buccaneers owner Malcom Glazer, former general manager Rich McKay, now general manager for the Atlanta Falcons, and former Buccaneer Warren Sapp.

Buccaneers Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice also attended.

"I got to know him as more than just the coach's kid," former Buccaneer Martin Gramatica said. "James was the type of kid you expect from a guy like Coach Dungy."

Tony and Lauren Dungy planned to bury their son following Tuesday's service. Dungy left the team last Thursday, and it was uncertain when he would return.

New York Jets Coach Herman Edwards and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith also came to pay their respects.

On Monday evening, hundreds of mourners came to pay their respects to the coach. Dungy, revered in this city as much more than someone who wins football games, seemed to be comforting well-wishers instead of the other way around.

"You try to find words for him, but it's hard," Brooks told the Tampa Tribune. "A lot of people have come out to pay their respects because he meant more to this community than just a football coach."

Jim Caldwell, who is running the Colts in Dungy's absence, has been in almost daily contact with him and is trying to keep the team in its routine. That included a scheduled three-day break even after a second straight loss Saturday, 28-13 at Seattle.

Still, the teen's death has pushed football into a secondary role for the Colts, who spent much of the past two months answering questions about the possibility of becoming the second NFL team to complete a perfect season.

That quest ended at 13-0 when they lost 26-17 to San Diego on Dec. 18. Four days later, James was found dead. The exact cause of his death will be determined following a toxicology study.