Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Tony Dungy and his wife Lauren told NBC’s Today Show earlier this month that they have fostered more than 100 children thanks to their decision to never turn away a child in need.

Lauren Dungy said, “We love children. Children are our passion, and we just believe that we can pour into them and just help them, guide them through life.” She added, “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. 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.”

Lauren Dungy is an early childhood education specialist and a former teacher. Tony is an NBC football analyst and retired coach who formerly led the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both are Christian. They recently released a book they co-authored, Uncommon Influence: Saying Yes to a Purposeful Life. Tony Dungy said their goal with the book is to “encourage people to let God lead.”

Faith is at the heart of their daily lives, Lauren Dungy said. She added, “It’s definitely the driving force in our life. We begin each day in prayer together, talking to the Lord, and that just really jumpstarts our day. Prayer is very important, and faith is what keeps us together and keeps us going – guides our path.”

.@TonyDungy and @LaurenDungy are opening up about being parents of 11, their new book ‘Uncommon Influence: Saying Yes To A Purposeful Life,’ and more. pic.twitter.com/SgMDBRLBUa

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 9, 2022

They discuss their family in the book. They’re the parents of 11 children – a number that includes adopted children and foster children. Tony Dungy joked that parenting a large number of kids is easier because he and Lauren each led large groups as a coach and a teacher.

“I think it’s a matter of just being prepared for them and knowing they’re going to happen,” he said, referencing the many times he’s received a call from social services asking if the Dungys can take in another child. “And for us, that’s how it’s been when we’ve registered as foster parents. That’s the first thing that’s happened – ‘Hey, we’ve got an emergency situation, can you do this?’ And you have to say, ‘Yes, we’re willing’ – and those are some of the most fun ones.”

In their book, the Dungys speak about how some foster children come in and out of their lives for years. Most of the time, they’ll get calls about children who need a home in the middle of the night. Whenever they got the call, the Dungys would answer. They also discussed how they answer the question, “how many children do you have?” They always include their foster children in the official count of children, which some would say is an interesting decision. Deciding to take on foster children isn’t an easy one. Essentially, you have to open your home to a stranger and hope everything turns out for the best.

The Dungys know that these children are in need, so they do whatever they can to help them. May God continue to bless them in their fostering journey.