Jimmy Johnson college, coaching career: Recapping Fox analyst's playing, coaching stops
Ahead of Super Bowl 59, Fox put together a segment celebrating the career of NFL Hall of Famer and analyst Jimmy Johnson.
While Johnson did not indicate he was retiring, the AI video honoring his career from his start at the University of Arkansas as a defensive lineman to his coaching career felt like the end of a legendary career around football for Johnson.
Here's what you need to know about Johnson's college career and his coaching stops:
Jimmy Johnson college
Johnson attended Arkansas and played football for the Razorbacks from 1962 to 1964, helping guide the team to its only national championship in 1964. During his stint with the Razorbacks, Johnson was a teammate of Jerry Jones, the future Dallas Cowboys owner.
In 1964, Johnson earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a defensive lineman, leading the Razorbacks to a perfect 11-0 record. Johnson earned a spot in the Arkansas All-Decade team for the 1960s and was added to the Arkansas’ athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
Jimmy Johnson coaching career
Following his playing career with the Razorbacks, Johnson became an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech in 1965. There, he helped recruit Terry Bradshaw to play for the school. After a few years of bouncing around as an assistant coach, Johnson was hired as the Oklahoma State football coach in 1979. In five years, Johnson coached the Cowboys to a 29-25-3 record.
Johnson was hired by the Miami Hurricanes ahead of the 1984 season. During his time with the Hurricanes, he finished with a 52-9 record, including a 12-0 national championship season in 1987. Following an 11-1 1988 season with Miami, Jones hired his former teammate to coach the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.
In his Cowboys tenure, Johnson posted a 44-36 record in five years, which looks better when taking out his 1-15 first season with Dallas. Under Johnson, the Cowboys won back-to-back Super Bowls during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Instead of going for a three-peat, Johnson left the Cowboys after the 1993 season due to a growing rift with Jones.
In 1996, Johnson returned to coaching with the Miami Dolphins. He posted a 36-28 record in his four seasons with the Dolphins, reaching the postseason in all but one season. Johnson resigned the day after the Dolphins' 62-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC divisional game.
Here's a look at Johnson's head coaching stops during his career (head coach unless otherwise noted):
- Louisiana Tech (1965): Assistant
- Picayune Memorial High School (Mississippi (1966): Assistant
- Wichita State (1967): Assistant
- Iowa State (1968-69): Assistant
- Oklahoma (1970-72): Defensive line coach
- Arkansas (1973-76): Defensive coordinator
- Pittsburgh (1977-78): Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator
- Oklahoma State (1979-1983): 29-25-3
- Miami (1984-88): 52-9 (Two national championships)
- Dallas Cowboys (1989-93): 44-36 (Two Super Bowls)
- Miami Dolphins: 36-28
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