Tony Dungy Cites Scripture to Challenge Pastor’s Defense of Polygyny

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Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and outspoken Christian Tony Dungy is speaking out about the biblical definition of marriage after an Ohio pastor sparked controversy by announcing he has two wives.

Israel Ford, co-founder of LifeWorks Church in the Cleveland area, said in an October announcement that he has been in the relationship for nearly three years. His first wife, Lydia, introduced church minister Shakayla Ford as his second wife during the service, drawing applause from congregants. 

In a social media post, Ford defended the arrangement and called the teaching that a man should have only one wife “unbiblical.”

Dungy and other Christians pushed back, citing Scripture that describes marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Dungy is a television analyst and the host of the upcoming Road to Sunday series. 

The back-and-forth on X/Twitter began after another user challenged Christians to provide a biblical prohibition against polygamy. That individual wrote, “I’m still waiting for someone to show me ONE Bible verse that explicitly forbids polygamy. Not opinions. Not church traditions. Not personal interpretations. Chapter and verse.”

The Super Bowl-winning coach soon responded, first citing Ephesians 5:31-32 (NLT): “As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.”

“If marriage represents the bond between Jesus and believers can the body of believers accept another savior while being devoted to Jesus?” Dungy asked.

He then quoted Jesus’ words from Mark 10:11 (NLT): “He told them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her.’”

“Do you think if divorcing your wife and then getting married is a sin it would be ok to get married again while still married?” Dungy asked. 

When Dungy was challenged—“Just like Jesus has many followers, a man can have many wives,” someone wrote—the coach pointed to the church’s relationship with Christ as a model for marriage.

“But Jesus has only one bride -- the church. Ephesians 5:32. The word states further [that] ‘Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him’ Ephesians 5:6 NLT,” Dungy wrote. 

Soon, other Christians on X/Twitter chimed in, providing further biblical arguments against polygamy. One cited 1 Timothy 3:2 (“Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach”) and Titus 1:5-6 (“An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife”). 

When another user pointed out that Solomon had many wives, a Christian commenter responded, “And his many wives led him to idol worship. The wise king towards the end of his life became the king of fools. He led Israel to idol worship including child sacrifice.”

Multiple followers expressed gratitude for Dungy’s boldness.

“Seriously Coach,” one wrote, “thank you for being so strong in your faith.”

“As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” Ephesians 5:31-32 NLT If marriage represents the bond between Jesus and believers can the body of believers accept another savior while being devoted to Jesus? Jesus said: “He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her.” Mark 10:11 NLT Do you think if divorcing your wife and then getting married is a sin it would be ok to get married again while still married?

— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) October 27, 2026

Editor's Note: 
Polygamy refers broadly to marriage involving multiple spouses, regardless of gender. Polygyny is one form of polygamy in which a man has more than one wife at the same time. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Scott Halleran/Staff

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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