Cowboys' Jerry Jones Sends Emotional Message to Jimmy Johnson

FRISCO - Jimmy Johnson coached here for only five seasons. And it was 30 years ago. And yet the legend remains beloved by Dallas Cowboys after having led Dallas to consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s.

And he's beloved by Jerry Jones for all of that ... and more.

Johnson retired from Fox Sports on Monday after decades on the show. But in DFW he'll always be the architect of a Cowboys roster than won three title in four years in the 1990s. 

The 81-year-old officially announced his retirement during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

"I've made an extremely difficult decision," said Johnson, who lives in the Florida Keys. "I've been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I've decided to retire from Fox."

Speculation about Johnson's retirement began to run rampant during the network's coverage of Super Bowl LIX. The network showed a video tribute during its pregame show and Fox NFL Sunday host Curt Menefee asked Johnson if the Super Bowl would be his last time on-air in his role.

Said Johnson then, "One day at a time."

Monday he was sure the time had come to stop broadcasting.

And Cowboys owner Jones, who has been friends with Jimmy since the two of them were freshmen on the University of Arkansas team that won a 1960 national championship, is appreciative of it all.

Said Jones: “From the time we were in college until the time we were holding up those Super Bowl trophies, I knew Jimmy Johnson could be anything he wanted to be, and he has. Some of the most exciting times in my life I shared with Jimmy, and I cherish them. As one of the most gifted people I’ve ever been around, Jimmy has blazed a remarkable, unique trail that is now deeply embedded into football and broadcasting history. 

"Congratulations on your incredible career Jimmy, and I wish you well in your fourth quarter my friend. You will always be a winner!”

Johnson won a National Championship at Miami and was hired by Jones in 1989 to replace legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry. It didn't start well, as his team went 1-15 in 1989. But helped by a cache of talent earned from the infamous trade of Herschel Walker, Johnson helped assemble talent that won Super Bowls in 1992-93.

After an ugly tug-of-war with Jones for credit over the team's success, he left the organization in 1994. Even though his replacement - Barry Switzer - led the Cowboys to their last Super Bowl in the 1995 season, fans generally credit Johnson for the building of that championship roster.

Johnson and Jones ultimately buried the hatchet, and he was inducted to the Cowboys' Ring of Honor late in 2023.

And in the end? All involved are left with much to cherish.