What Do We Know about Tony Dungy's Children? There Are 11 of Them

Iconic former NFL player and coach Tony Dungy is best known for his incredible double career, but what really defines him is fatherhood: he has 11 children and fostered 100 more.

Former NFL player and coach Tony Dungy is a Superbowl champion twice over: as a player and as a coach, but what many fans may not realize is that his greatest achievement has been as a father.

Tony Dungy has 11 children, three of whom were born to him and his wife, Lauren Dungy, and eight which they adopted -- and that does not include the 100 children the couple fostered over the years.

Tony Dungy was born on October 6, 1955, in Jackson, Michigan, and it's not surprising that he is devoted to children. His parents were teachers. His wife Lauren Dungy was also a teacher.

His mother, Cleomae Dungy, taught Shakespeare and English, and his father, Wilbur Dungy, was a science professor at Jackson College. Tony studied at the University of Minnesota, where he was recognized for his athletic and academic excellence,

As a pro, Tony went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Giants. Even though his career as a player was short -- from 1977 to 1980 -- he was to leave his mark on the sport as a coach.

But by far, Tony's greatest impact was on the lives of the children he fathered, adopted, and fostered. Tony Dungy is the National Spokesman for AllProDad, and they couldn't have picked a better representative.

Tony Dungy's Biological Children

Tony and Lauren welcomed their three biological children, daughter Tiara, born in 1984, and sons James, born in 1987, and Eric, the youngest was born in 1995.

Tiara followed in her grandparents' footsteps and chose an academic life. She earned a B.A. in Sociology at Spelman College and an M.A. in International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.

In 2018, she was working towards her Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies, with a minor in Business Administration at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University.

Eric is the middle son, the sportsman, like his dad. He too played football in college for the University of Oregon and the University of South Florida as a wide receiver -- but unlike his dad, he didn't go pro.

Jordan has a condition called congenital insensitivity to pain, which led to serious injuries when he was a child.

Eric works as a real estate agent in Tampa, Florida, He has a podcast and is very close to his parents and his many brothers and sisters.

The Dungys' second son, James, died tragically in 2005 at the age of 18. He was studying at the University of South Florida when he passed away, a victim of suicide. Tony said of his son:

"[James] was by far the most sensitive, the most compassionate of all our boys. Because of that, he was always looking around for that person who needed help. He was always looking for the one that was hurting, the one who was alone."

Tony Dungy and His Wife Adopted 8 Children

Tony and Lauren married in 1982, and since then, they have opened their hearts and home to many children in need -- by their count, over 100.

Sometimes the phone calls from Child Services come in the middle of the night, asking the Dungys if they can take in a boy or a girl. Tony explained:

"We made that decision early on that when we were going to foster children, we wouldn't say 'no,' because we know the children are in crisis and they need a home."

Many sports stars dedicate themselves to charity and children, like Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Cristiano Ronaldo, but few take it to heart like Tony Dungy.

Tony, who once considered giving up football to minister to prisoners, considers it part of his ministry as a Christian to offer children love and safety in times of need. He said:

"They need stability. They need love. So we opened our doors to the kids, and we've had over 100 children walk through our door.”

The Dungys have adopted eight children: Jordan, Jade, Justin, Jason, Jalen, Jaden, and Jaela. whose ages ranged from 8 to 23, as of 2023.

One of the kids Lauren and Tony adopted is Jordan, who turned 21 in 2021. Tony wrote about Jordan:

"He's had his share of physical challenges, but God has blessed him in an amazing way. His heart to serve others has impacted our entire family."

Jordan has congenital insensitivity to pain, which led to serious injuries when he was a child, and the Dungys had to be extremely vigilant. Despite his challenges, Jordan is a passionate fan of the Seattle Seahawks.

Tony and Lauren have an adoptive daughter named Jade, and she has expressed her love, admiration, and gratitude for what Tony has done for her and her siblings in a Father's Day post on Twitter.

Jade is also a loving big sister and is close to her younger siblings, even taking her baby sister Jaela on outings to Disneyland. The young woman is also a music fan and often attends festivals.

Jason is one of the youngest of the Dungys and a dedicated student. Tony has shared snaps on Facebook of Jason's school projects and praised him for his excellence.

Jason has been with the Dungys since he was very young and is now a teenager. Like his siblings, he has been fortunate to grow up in a loving home provided by Tony Dungy's giant and loving heart.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.