INDIANAPOLIS | Having his successor already in place didn't dissuade Tony Dungy from returning for a seventh season as the Colts' head coach.

In fact, Jim Caldwell's appointment as his eventual replacement might have made the decision to return easier for Dungy, the NFL's winningest coach since 1999.

Dungy, who has contemplated retiring from the NFL after each of the previous three seasons, announced Monday that he will return for the 2008-09 season and possibly beyond. Caldwell, the team's quarterbacks coach the past six seasons who also became the assistant head coach in 2005, worked out a contract with the Colts that will keep him in line as Dungy's heir apparent. Caldwell interviewed earlier this month for the coaching vacancies in Atlanta and Baltimore. Dungy indicated his decision to come back was made easier with Caldwell's return.

"I didn't want our organization to lose him and lose me the next year or whatever if it didn't have to happen," Dungy said. "That took a lot of pressure off me to not make a decision to maybe not come back so we didn't lose Jim."

Dungy came to the conclusion to return after consulting over the weekend with his wife and family at their Tampa home. He reiterated Monday that he has the passion and energy to return for his seventh season in Indianapolis and 12th season leading an NFL sideline.

"I love this franchise," Dungy said. "I love my family. It was a mutual decision on the part of my wife and I that we wanted to go forward and we're excited about it."

With the Colts' Super Bowl win last year, Dungy became the NFL's first black coach to win a league championship. The Colts finished this season with a 13-3 record, becoming the first franchise in league history to post five straight seasons with at least 12 wins, but lost to San Diego in the AFC Divisional playoff round.

"I wouldn't come back if I didn't think we had a chance to win and I was the very best person to help this organization win," Dungy said.

Polian and Irsay emphasized that Dungy and Caldwell's roles would not change this season, with the exception of Caldwell being more involved in player personnel and administrative decisions.

"I have a unique opportunity to learn from men who know this business inside and out," Caldwell said. "This is a special place. It's not very often that you get an opportunity in the future to take over an organization that's been as successful as this one. Typically, you have to go to a situation where you have to restructure and rebuild. I really feel blessed in that regard."

Irsay made it clear that this season won't be a farewell tour for Dungy, who will lead the Colts in opening their new venue, Lucas Oil Stadium.

"We thought it was in our best interest to have a transition plan in place that would allow Jim to know that he's a guy who in the future I look to be our head coach someday, but I say someday," Irsay said. "This isn't a victory lap for Tony. This just isn't definitely one year or something like that.

"We don't have two head coaches. We're going to operate how we always operate."