Maybe Next Year? Not Likely...

With teams led by African-American head coaches battling for the NFL title, this historic Superbowl match-up made it hard for me to root against either team. It was a rare case where I wanted to see both coaches on the podium to receive the Lombardi trophy.

The Colts are normally a team I dislike to the point where I actively root against them. Yesterday, I just could not because my admiration for Tony Dungy goes back 30 years. I remember him as a rookie in 1977 accomplishing a most unusual statistical oddity. In a game in Houston, both Pittsburgh Steeler QBs (Bradshaw & Kruczek) were knocked out and he had to play QB for the Steelers. He came in and promptly threw an interception. Earlier, he had intercepted a pass, so he is the last player to intercept a pass and throw an interception in the same game.

As a young Black child growing up in an era where QBs of colour could all be counted on one hand, seeing Dungy taking a snap for the mighty Steelers was special... and a reminder of the discrimation against Black QBs. Honestly, during the years Dungy played in Pittsburgh, I wanted the Pittsburgh QBs injured just so I could see Dungy play QB again. Yeah, I was a sick little puppy. :-)

Three decades later, I am now hoping to see the man Dungy's team defeated get another chance to win the Superbowl.

Despite the domination of the Colts, Lovie Smith's Bears were still in the game until a 4th quarter interception returned for a touchdown sealed their fate. Considering the erratic play of QB Rex Grossman and the lack of star power (besides Brian Urlacher) on defense, the Bears still found ways to not only win, but often overpower other teams all season long. Unfortunately, the Colts were just too strong and too good.

The scary thing about the Bears is that they can get a lot better. To reach a championship game with a team with such obvious flaws is a testament to Smith and the job he is doing in Chicago. Like every one of the 40 previous teams to lose in the Superbowl, the Bears (and their fans) believe they will be back next year to claim the title.

Unfortunately, history is against them. The 1972 Miami Dolphins were one of the greatest teams of all-time and their legacy as league's only undefeated team is celebrated every year. What is lost when people remember all of their accomplishments is the fact that they are also the last team to lose the Superbowl, then come back the following year to win it. Since then, 34 teams have failed to fulfill their promise to return the next year.

Smith's Bears are now the 35th team on that list.