Last year, Alstott and Dunn were the only backfield tandem in the NFL to each top 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The pair’s one-two punch of bruising strength and slashing speed helps keep opposing defenses off balance. In 1999, Alstott (1,188 total yards) racked up a career-high 949 rushing yards and rushed for seven scores. Dunn (1,205 total yards) rushed for 616 yards and paced the club with a career-best 64 catches. Alstott also earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection and his third consecutive first-team All-Pro nod from the Associated Press. He is the lone rusher in Buccaneer history to earn three consecutive trips to Hawaii.

In 1998, the Bucs finished fourth in the league in rushing with 2,148 yards – the second-best total in franchise history. Dunn rushed for 1,026 yards, becoming the teams’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 1995. In 1997, Dunn was the only rookie to make the Pro Bowl, joining Alstott in Hawaii. In Nathan’s four seasons as running backs coach, the Bucs have averaged 116.3 yards rushing per game, the club’s best stretch since Tampa Bay’s playoff squads of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Nathan, a versatile, pass-catching running back for nine seasons in a Miami Dolphin uniform, has helped mold Alstott and Dunn in that same fashion. Either Alstott or Dunn has led the team in receptions in three of Nathan’s four seaons in Tampa.

Nathan, in his 13th season as an NFL assistant coach, helped the Bucs improve from 22nd in the league in rushing in 1996 to 11th in 1997 and fourth in 1998.

From 1988-95, Nathan was an assistant coach for the Dolphins. Initially hired by legendary Miami head coach Don Shula as a coaches’ assistant, Nathan’s responsibilities included breaking down game film and charting plays. In 1993, he was promoted to Miami’s offensive backs coach.

In 1995, Bernie Parmalee, formerly an undrafted free agent, led the Dolphins in rushing with 878 yards and nine TDs while Terry Kirby finished in the AFC’s top 10 in receptions. In 1993, Nathan’s first season supervising the team’s RBs, Kirby (75) and Keith Byars (61) combined for an NFL backfield-best 136 receptions, which was also the highest total by two backs in Dolphin annals.

Nathan was a running back for Miami from 1979-87. He ranks fourth on the club’s all-time list in rushing attempts (732), rushing yards (3,543) and receptions (383). He is also fifth in receiving yards (3,592), tied for ninth in scoring (198 points, 33 TDs), seventh in punt return yards (484) and ninth in kick return yards (1,133).

In 1981, Nathan was named the Dolphins’ Most Valuable Player after leading the team in rushing with a career-high 782 yards and posting an NFL-best 5.3-yard rushing average.

Nathan played in Super Bowls XVII and XIX for the Dolphins. Perhaps the single play Nathan is most remembered for occurred in one of the NFL’s greatest games, a 41-38 OT playoff loss to San Diego on January 2, 1982. Nathan scored on a 25-yard run following a lateral from WR Duriel Harris on the famous “hook and ladder” play.

As a collegian, Nathan starred at Alabama from 1975-78. In both his junior and senior seasons, the Crimson Tide posted an 11-1 record, winning a national championship in 1978. In his Alabama career, Nathan rushed for 1,997 yards on 310 carries with 29 TDs. He gained 770 yards in the national championship season and ran for 127 yards in the Tide’s 14-7 Sugar Bowl win over Penn State that clinched the title.

Born December 14, 1956 in Birmingham, Alabama, Nathan was a four-sport letterman at Birmingham’s Woodlawn High School. Tony and his wife, Johnnie, have three daughters, Francheria (7/8/80), Natalie (8/9/83) and Nadia (5/27/87).