Erin Andrews Sends Warm 'Forever' Message To Jimmy Johnson

FRISCO - For his "forever teammates'' at FOX Sports? This is intensely personal.

Jimmy Johnson is a legend to fans of the Dallas Cowboys, who are proud that he's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, proud that he's in the Ring of Honor and most of all, proud of his building of a team that won three Super Bowls in the 1990's.

But to folks like Erin Andrews? As Johnson announced his retirement from FOX Sports live on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Monday afternoon, the warm regards shared by colleagues like her resonated deeply.

“As you know, probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my career, and that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships, was at Fox Sports,” Johnson said. “I have an absolute ball with my friends on the set, and the best friends I’ve ever had there with Fox.''

That, of course, is a mouthful as Johnson, 81, hit the highest of highs as a national champion player at the University of Arkansas, then did that again as the coach at the University of Miami, and then did it again as the co-architect of the "Team of the 1990's'' Cowboys that won three Super Bowls in four years.

But now? He's a TV guy, too. A retiring TV guy.

Erin's warm message on social media?

"My favorite part about working with @jimmyjohnson4616 will always be my checkins with @nflonfox during breaks," Andrews wrote on Instagram. "Coach is always the first one to say how much he liked my outfit, asked me abt the crowd, or about the weather at the stadium. His speeches were legendary at our dinners. And his humor, laugh, and smile were the best part about being around him! 

"Cheers to you Coach! Love you so much! Proud to be your forever teammate."

Johnson first worked for Fox for a time after leaving Dallas but became a fixture on the studeio set in 2000.

Johnson, who resides in the Miami area while the Fox studios are in LA, said he has been contemplating this move for a time.

“I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I’ve decided to retire from Fox, and I’m going to miss it,'' he said. "I’m going to miss all the guys, and I’ll see them occasionally, but it has been a great run starting back 31 years ago.”

During Fox's Super Bowl 59 broadcast this year, the network offered an emotional video tribute to Johnson ... a hint at a retirement that is now offcial.

Along the way, he's made headlines as a friend and foe of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, with that relationship culminating in the coach's induction into the team's Ring of Honor.

And he's obviously made some "forever teammates'' in his final gig as well.