Jimmy Johnson on Feb. 9, 2023. Photo:
Ethan Miller/Getty
Jimmy Johnson, longtime Fox Sports commentator, is retiring.
While on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Monday, March 3, the former football coach shared his “difficult decision” to retire from the network. The analyst and former coach, 81, first joined Fox in 1994, when Fox NFL Sunday first debuted.
“I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I’ve decided to retire from Fox,” Johnson shared. “Probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my career — and that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships — was at Fox Sports.”
“I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss all the guys,” he continued. “I’ll see ’em occasionally.”
Jimmy Johnson on Jan. 21, 2017. Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Johnson’s “great run starting back 31 years ago” followed his success as a football coach, for the Dallas Cowboys, which he led to two consecutive Super Bowl wins. (He’s one of only six head coaches to achieve that feat in NFL history.) He was also a college football coach for the Miami Hurricanes, which secured the College Football National Championship title in 1987.
In 1996, Johnson briefly left Fox Sports for the head coach position with the Miami Dolphins, eventually returning to the network in 2002. In 2020, Johnson was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s centennial class.
The retiring analyst worked alongside longstanding Fox Sports personalities Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Michael Strahan.
Jimmy Johnson on Aug. 7, 2021. MSA/Icon Sportswire via Getty
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Eric Shanks, CEO of Fox Sports, gave Johnson a sweet sendoff in a statement shared on X. “Jimmy served as an inspiration to generations of football fans with his legendary swagger, one-of-a-kind insight and signature humnour. From his motivating pep talks to his unmatched energy over the years, he was our coach who always pushed us to be better,” Shanks wrote.
He added, “Coach will be sincerely missed and we wish him the best as he sets sail into retirement, like only Jimmy Johnson can.”
Strahan, 53, also reacted to his former colleague’s retirement news. “Congratulations on your retirement @JimmyJohnson ! It has been 17 seasons of fun and laughs sitting next to you. You’re truly one of a kind and thanks for being you and gifting me with one of the best friendships anyone could ever ask for. Hope you enjoy fishing and drinking beers on the boat.🛥️ You deserve it, love you Coach!” he posted on X.
