Tony Dungy Says Marcus Mariota Is 'Aaron Rodgers In The Waiting'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- There's ringing endorsements, and then there's what former Indianapolis Colts head coach---now NFL analyst---Tony Dungy, said about Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota.
"Marcus Mariota is a fantastic player," Dungy said on the Dan Patrick Show. "He is going to be a great pro. Not only is he going to be a great quarterback, he's going to be a great person, face of the franchise for whoever takes him. I think this is Aaron Rodgers in the waiting."
Rodgers is arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history, so that is a hefty comparison for Dungy to make.
Former NFL head coach, now UCLA head coach, Jim Mora echoed the same sentiment as Dungy.
"I think he's going to be phenomenal," Mora said of Mariota on The Rich Eisen Show. "He has everything you're looking for to be a great NFL quarterback. He's big, he's fast, he's physical. He's incredibly smart. He makes great decisions. He's an amazing competitor," Mora told Eisen. "He's one of my favorite players of all time, and I've competed against him only twice but I've watched him a lot, and he's about as classy as a person as you'll ever find. He's the kind of guy you want representing your franchise. He has everything you want to be great at the next level."
Of course, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly---who coached Mariota for two years while he was at Oregon---also agrees.
"I think Marcus will be successful whether he's an NFL player, a banker, a teacher, a fireman, a policeman," Kelly said Monday on the 94WIP Morning Show. "I've said it before about some other players, but if you can buy stock in a human being, you buy stock in that kid because he'll always be successful in anything he does."
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