“The most fun I ever had in my career, that's counting Super Bowls and national championships, was at Fox Sports,” he said, adding that he loved working for CEO Eric Shanks and Fox NFL Sunday producer Bill Richards.
“But I've made an extremely difficult decision,” he said. “I've been thinking about it for the last four or five years and I've decided to retire from Fox. I'm going to miss it. I'm going to miss all the guys. I'll see them occasionally. It's been a great run starting 31 years ago.”
Johnson worked alongside hosts Curt Menefee and Terry Bradshaw and analysts Howie Long and Michael Strahan.
"Jimmy Johnson was there when Fox NFL Sunday came on-air for the first time 31 years ago, and since then has been a cherished member of our Fox Sports family, which makes today's retirement news bittersweet," Shanks said in a statement posted to social media. "Jimmy served as an inspiration to generations of football fans with his legendary swagger, one-of-a-kind insight and signature humor."
Johnson won Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1992 and ’93 seasons and the college football national championship with Miami in 1987. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Johnson coached the Cowboys for five seasons, stepping down after winning his second Lombardi Trophy, and three months later was hired as a Fox NFL pregame show analyst. Johnson's split with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was acrimonious, and it wasn't until Dec. 30, 2023, that Jones put Johnson in the team’s ring of honor. Johnson and Tom Landry are the only coaches alongside the 19 players and two executives in the exclusive group of one of the NFL’s storied franchises.
Johnson left Fox in 1996 to become general manager and coach of the Miami Dolphins. He returned in 2002.
Johnson's coaching career started in 1965 as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Bradshaw's alma mater. He became a head coach for the first time in 1979, at Oklahoma State, and left after five years for Miami, where he went 52-9 with two No. 2 finishes to go with his 1987 title.
"It has been 17 seasons of fun and laughs sitting next to you," Strahan posted on X. "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!"
Johnson reposted Strahan's well wishes and added a message: "Michael, going to miss sitting next to you but I'll be watching."
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Credit: AP
Credit: AP