The early theme of the offseason for the Dallas Cowboys has been retirement. After legendary guard Zack Martin called it a career after a decade of consistent All-Pro nominations, former Dallas head coach Jimmy Johnson is also going to call time on his television life.
After retiring from coaching following the 1999 season, Johnson found his way to TV and was an omnipresent member of the FOX NFL Sunday crew for 25 years. In that time, younger generations who missed out on the Cowboys' dynasty in the 90s came to know Johnson as an animated analyst.
With Johnson into his 80s and having accomplished so much as both a coach and a broadcaster, the old Dallas leading man confirmed that he is going to retire during an appearance on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd." FOX soon followed this announcement with a press release thanking Johnson for his service.
Cowboys legend Jimmy Johnson retiring from FOX NFL Sunday
Johnson went 81-34-3 as a college coach at Oklahoma State and Miami, winning a national championship with the Hurricanes. He proved to be one of the few coaches who could translate college success to the pros, so much so that he eventually found his way to the Hall of Fame.
Johnson went 80-64 in the pros, winning nine playoff games along the way. With Dallas, he took a team that started 1-15 and had them at 11-5 by his third season and fresh off back-to-back Super Bowl wins by his fifth campaign. Johnson was a natural to make the switch to television when he retired from coaching.
Johnson's perfect blend of quirkiness, insightfulness, and passion was exactly what FOX needed to add some spice to their pregame show. Even as he went into his 80s, Johnson was still arguably the best part of that show every single week.
Johnson, who will turn 82 in January, has more than earned this retirement. After decades of service both on and off the field to the NFL, it's time for the Cowboys great to kick up his feet in the Florida Keys, light up a cigar, and wait for the fish to start biting.