While Rhodes' abrupt dismissal after one season caught Dungy by surprise, Dungy said he's more concerned about franchises that have never given blacks an opportunity to be a head coach.

Rhodes was fired after leading the Packers to an 8-8 record and missing the playoffs. The move left Dungy and Minnesota's Dennis Green as the only black head coaches in a league in which more than 65 percent of the players are black.

The Rainbow-PUSH Coalition, a group headed by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, has questioned whether Rhodes "was held to a different standard" because of his race.

"I don't necessarily think that was the right way to go, because to me the Packers made a move. They hired the guy, and for whatever reason they decided not to continue with it," Dungy said. "I think we need to look at the situations where they don't hire people, as opposed to the Packers' situation, personally."

Dungy, whose team will face Washington in a NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, said increased pressure on coaches to win has created a climate for quick firings.

"It goes with the territory. Dallas, you look at that, and they won the division one year and get into the playoffs the next year. The guy's been there two years and makes the playoffs both years and it's not good enough," Dungy said.

"Every organization has different standards, but it comes down to when you don't meet those expectations, they make changes. But there's more scrutiny now and more pressure to win."