Tony Dungy calls for real preseason
Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach, said after Week 1 that the NFL needs a real preseason because players appeared unprepared for game speed, contact, tackling, and demands.
Dungy said defenses especially need contact to prepare properly. He predicted teams would play better by October and urged fans not to form strong conclusions after only the opening week.
NFL Week 1 ties scoring record
Week 1 produced 791 total points across 16 games, tying the post-merger record for an opening week. Teams averaged 49.44 combined points per game, matching the highest scoring opener.
Eleven teams scored at least 30 points during the opening slate. Chicago led with 59 against Carolina, while Buffalo beat Houston 36-31, and Minnesota also scored 39 against Green Bay.
Tony Dungy targets execution problems
Dungy focused on execution problems rather than the scoring totals. His post specifically cited tackling, penalties and mental errors as mistakes that changed games during the opening week of the regular season.
He argued teams were not ready for the pace and physical demands of meaningful games. His comments centered on preparation, including the amount of contact available before the regular season.
Broncos expose tackling problem
Denver provided one of Week 1’s tackling examples against Kansas City. Next Gen Stats credited the Broncos with 28 missed tackles and 247 yards after missed tackles in the 31-10 loss.
The 247 yards were the most allowed after missed tackles by any defense in a game since at least 2018. Kansas City also rushed for 220 yards in the matchup.
NFL preseason has three games
The current NFL format gives most teams three preseason games before 17 regular-season contests. That structure began in 2021, when the league expanded the schedule and reduced preseason play.
Arizona and Carolina played four preseason games in 2026 because they participated in the Hall of Fame Game. The other 30 teams followed the three-game schedule before Week 1.
Tony Dungy wants more preparation
Dungy’s argument does not simply ask the NFL to add another exhibition date. His comments emphasize meaningful contact and game speed, suggesting the existing preseason may leave starters less prepared.
Starter usage varies by club during August. Some coaches limit snaps to reduce injury risk, while others use preseason games for preparation, leaving teams with varying levels of contact before Week 1.
NFL offenses start fast in Week 1
Chicago’s 59-37 victory over Carolina became the highest-scoring game of Week 1. Caleb Williams accounted for 4 touchdowns, while D’Andre Swift rushed for 124 yards and scored 3 times.
Minnesota beat Green Bay 39-22, while Buffalo edged Houston 36-31. Those results added to a Sunday in which 10 teams scored at least 30 points before the Monday night finale.
Tony Dungy warns against overreaction
Dungy warned fans against overreacting to one game. He said teams should look better by October and advised supporters not to get too high or too low after Week 1.
That message kept his focus on development rather than entertainment value. The opening weekend produced record scoring, yet Dungy emphasized that early mistakes can give a misleading picture of teams.
NFL calendar leaves short runway
Most teams completed three preseason games between August 13 and August 29. The regular season began September 9, leaving 11 days between the final preseason Saturday and the first game.
The Hall of Fame Game came earlier, on August 6, with Carolina facing Arizona. That exhibition gave both clubs four preseason contests, one more than the other 30 NFL teams.
NFL schedule changed in 2021
The NFL schedule changes how home dates are balanced. Teams alternate between hosting nine-season games and one preseason contest, or eight-season games and two preseason contests each year.
That system replaced the 16-game regular season and four-game preseason setup. The change followed the 2020 collective bargaining agreement and took effect when the league expanded in 2021.
Fun fact: Tony Dungy once intercepted a pass and later played emergency quarterback in the same NFL game, becoming the only modern-era player to throw and intercept a pass.
Tony Dungy leaves NBC after 17 years
Dungy left NBC’s Football Night in America before the 2026 season after 17 years with the network. He announced in March that NBC informed him he would not return that fall.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin joined NBC’s pregame coverage in 2026 after leaving Pittsburgh. His move placed another Super Bowl-winning coach in a role formerly occupied by Dungy.
Tony Dungy brings Hall of Fame resume
Dungy’s coaching background provides additional context for his preseason criticism. He won Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 after a coaching career.
His post did not propose a calendar, game total, or mandatory snap requirement. Instead, Dungy argued that preseason preparation should include enough contact to make players ready for opening week.
“Reluctant” Lamar Jackson reportedly holds back on Ravens extension talks, adding uncertainty around Baltimore’s long-term quarterback plans as contract timing, salary structure, and roster flexibility remain central to negotiations.
Tony Dungy leaves details unresolved
Week 1 paired record scoring with defensive mistakes, supporting Dungy’s argument. The NFL tied its post-merger opening week scoring record, while Denver posted a high total of missed tackles.
Dungy’s comments added a Hall of Fame coach’s perspective to questions about preseason contact, starter usage, injury management, and September readiness without proposing any specific formal league scheduling rule change.
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Tony Dungy believes more preseason contact would improve early NFL execution, but teams also want to protect players before meaningful games. Should the league change its preseason approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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