Jimmy Johnson Career Tributes

[DFWJC]

Jimmy was solely responsible for all THREE of those championships, and it drives Jerry to drink. More.

I get it....but you guys don't need to be so absolute.

For starters, there is no Dallas Cowboy Head Coach Jimmy without Jerry.

But that aside, are you saying that Jerry's additions of Larry Allen and Deion Sanders had nothing to with #3?

 

[Mk2_Cowboys]

This will be Jerry Jones‘ legacy . Pettiness to the point of psychopathy.

 

[ChuckA1]

For starters, there is no Dallas Cowboy Head Coach Jimmy without Jerry.

Geez, then you can say that about any coach. The problem is most great owners stay the hell out of the football coaching limelight. I've never seen an owner demand more credit for something he had little to do with, which explains the last 28 years.

 

[DFWJC]

Geez, then you can say that about any coach. The problem is most great owners stay the hell out of the football coaching limelight. I've never seen an owner demand more credit for something he had little to do with, which explains the last 28 years.

All true. I was just stating fact.
He gets credit for hiring Jimmy. It was a great hire
He also gets credit for bringing in Deion and drafting Larry Allen.

But of course, Jimmy built that roster overall
He should clearly be in the ROH

 

[jterrell]

Jimmy was undoubtedly great but part of why the U waited 25 years to induct him in the ROH is he was only there 5 years. Same issue in Dallas IMO. To me it’s whatever. Not the most deserving member left out but obviously no complaints if he gets in.

Fans cry too much about stupid things.

 

[DallasEast]

Jimmy was undoubtedly great but part of why the U waited 25 years to induct him in the ROH is he was only there 5 years. Same issue in Dallas IMO. To me it’s whatever. Not the most deserving member left out but obviously no complaints if he gets in.

Fans cry too much about stupid things.

Bold> That assumption would certainly apply to all three of UM's national championship head coaches of Howard Schnellenberger, Johnson and Dennis Erickson but is it also applicable to the university's former players?

 

[jterrell]

Geez, then you can say that about any coach. The problem is most great owners stay the hell out of the football coaching limelight. I've never seen an owner demand more credit for something he had little to do with, which explains the last 28 years.

Jerry is in the HOF for his influence on the league. Its marketing and growth of the game.
Jerry forced the Troy draft selection and has remained in his position as an owner and league mover for 25 years.
Jimmy deserves and gets massive credit for the Herschal trade, but he only made the trade because Jerry refused to pay Walker QB money.

Jimmy never coached anywhere more than 5 years and hit his expiration date here.
He did an A+ job but he also did it before salary cap driven free agency.
He made the NFL HOF based on 9 years as an NFL head coach.
Had he not taken the Dolphins job he wouldn't have made the NFL HOF.

I swear our fans are like a kid whose dad left idolizing him and hating the mom that raised them on a shoestring budget with little to no help from dad who started a new family on the coast.

 

[ChuckA1]

Jerry is in the HOF for his influence on the league. Its marketing and growth of the game.
Jerry forced the Troy draft selection and has remained in his position as an owner and league mover for 25 years.
Jimmy deserves and gets massive credit for the Herschal trade, but he only made the trade because Jerry refused to pay Walker QB money.

Jimmy never coached anywhere more than 5 years and hit his expiration date here.
He did an A+ job but he also did it before salary cap driven free agency.
He made the NFL HOF based on 9 years as an NFL head coach.
Had he not taken the Dolphins job he wouldn't have made the NFL HOF.

I swear our fans are like a kid whose dad left idolizing him and hating the mom that raised them on a shoestring budget with little to no help from dad who started a new family on the coast.

When you've been a fan for almost 62 years, you can ***** now and then. Your post would have been far more influential without the *****y last paragraph

 

[jterrell]

Bold> That assumption would certainly apply to all three of UM's national championship head coaches of Howard Schnellenberger, Johnson and Dennis Erickson but is it also applicable to the university's former players?

Many of Jimmy's players preceded him into the Ring of Honor. VinnyT went in back in 1997. Steve Walsh went in ~2007? IIRC.
Players are only on campus 4-5 years so there is no expectation they serve a long time but coaches synonymous with programs last.
Coaching in general is a 30-year endeavor.

Bear Bryant was at Bama 20+, Switzer and Wilkinson at OU 16.
Saban was on his 5th head coaching job and has still been at Bama 17 years.

Cowboys fans wildly blame Jerry that Jimmy was fired but can never explain why Jimmy refused any job that required he work outside of Florida even publicly stating how much he hated his few trips to LA or NY for the networks.
Why he nver had a head coaching job surpass 5 seasons?
He has openly admitted it burns him out and he has to get a new challenge but fans ignore that.

 

[jterrell]

When you've been a fan for almost 62 years, you can ***** now and then. Your post would have been far more influential without the *****y last paragraph

hit dogs are gonna holler.

 

[ChuckA1]

hit dogs are gonna holler.

No dogs get hit in my sphere

 

[ChuckA1]

Jimmy Johnson had thoughts of winning three in a row, maybe even four. If Jones hadn't been such a jackass, they may have that record today.

One owns a football team, one doesn't. How has Jones fared over the last 28 years without Jimmy?

 

[DallasEast]

Many of Jimmy's players preceded him into the Ring of Honor. VinnyT went in back in 1997. Steve Walsh went in ~2007? IIRC.
Players are only on campus 4-5 years so there is no expectation they serve a long time but coaches synonymous with programs last.
Coaching in general is a 30-year endeavor.

Bear Bryant was at Bama 20+, Switzer and Wilkinson at OU 16.
Saban was on his 5th head coaching job and has still been at Bama 17 years.

College coaching used to be a long-term endeavor. Tenures like Bryant, Switzer and Wilkinson was the norm. Saban is more of an exception for his era.

If you are correct about the present day forward, short-term head coaches leading their teams to a national championship will not receive any official recognition from their institution housing their trophy until decades later. Hopefully, coaches of this era and in the future will have university-based hall of fames governed by non-university administrative agencies for their contributions. Like Schnellenberger. Like Johnson. Like Erickson.

I like the tenure counter-argument though, despite how athletes are judged with a separate standard of qualification.

Cowboys fans wildly blame Jerry that Jimmy was fired but can never explain why Jimmy refused any job that required he work outside of Florida even publicly stating how much he hated his few trips to LA or NY for the networks.
Why he nver had a head coaching job surpass 5 seasons?
He has openly admitted it burns him out and he has to get a new challenge but fans ignore that.

These questions are not central to the OP. The thread is recognition afforded to Johnson for what he accomplished during his career as a football head coach.

That said, you are correct that Johnson preferred abbreviated tenures with schools and franchises. Perhaps, in another universe or reality, where Johnson was highly decorated college player and standout NFL player instead of a head coach, he could have received the recognition deserved in short order.

Depending on those governing the recognition process itself, that is. Jones is not the only person or persons who delay and/or deny official recognition to those who earn them. Just ask Chuck Howley. Finally in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drew Pearson. Ditto. Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Outside looking in. Etc., etc.

 

[Cowboys5217]

I get it....but you guys don't need to be so absolute.

For starters, there is no Dallas Cowboy Head Coach Jimmy without Jerry.

But that aside, are you saying that Jerry's additions of Larry Allen and Deion Sanders had nothing to with #3?

Not true. Landry and Schram were already courting Jimmy to come in and be defensive coordinator and to take over when Landry retired.

Neither Allen nor Deion would have made much difference without the team already built by Jimmy.

 

[OGSixshooter]

I don't know about that but I am sure he feels no shame about Jimmy.

This is the one thing you may be right about. Alphas - in general - tend NOT to respond to shame, insults, guilt, etc.

That said, they DO respond to popular sentiment and if the entire tribe goes in another direction, they concede. This is one of those moments where it feels like even his closest allies - Michael, Troy, media personalities, homer fans - have all abandoned him. It's quite often the only thing SOME alphas respond to.

 

[DallasEast]

This is the one thing you may be right about. Alphas - in general - tend NOT to respond to shame, insults, guilt, etc.

That said, they DO respond to popular sentiment and if the entire tribe goes in another direction, they concede. This is one of those moments where it feels like even his closest allies - Michael, Troy, media personalities, homer fans - have all abandoned him. It's quite often the only thing SOME alphas respond to.

Do you have another example of an Alpha (i.e. executive, celebrity, etc.) in your opinion? Jones is a narcissist. I would like to compare an Alpha to him.

 

[DFWJC]

Not true. Landry and Schram were already courting Jimmy to come in and be defensive coordinator and to take over when Landry retired.

Neither Allen nor Deion would have made much difference without the team already built by Jimmy.

Get outta here.
They were not.
Jimmy is not leaving the freaking national champion Miami Head Coaching job to be a DC.
Come on

Jimmy and Jerry were college football teammates and old friends.
THAT is why Jimmy came to Dallas
Jimmy has always said this.

Having said that, of course, Jimmy is a huge reason that went on the Super Bowl run. He and the players, of course.

 

[Cowboys5217]

For those who are referring to Johnson not staying long at each job, let's examine why that happened rather than just dismiss it as "that's how Jimmy is".

Oklahoma State - was offered the job at Miami, a much higher profile position. Most people would have done the same as it meant more money, a higher profile, and a shot at the NFL if you succeed at Miami.

Miam U - was offered the job for the Cowboys, a much higher profile position. Most people would have done the same as it meant more money, a higher profile, and a shot at the Hall of Fame if you succeed at Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys - No need to rehash this. We all know what transpired here.

Miami Dolphins - Here is where I will concede that Jimmy had reached the burn out stage, and he knew it was time to retire.

I reject the " that's just how Jimmy is" argument as ignoring context. The reasons he left his first two major jobs was because he had earned a better job offer, and most people are going to do the same thing. The Cowboys thing was just an unfortunate clash of egos, and in Miami he realized his time was up. It is just a coincidence that 5 years was a common factor.

 

[jterrell]

College coaching used to be a long-term endeavor. Tenures like Bryant, Switzer and Wilkinson was the norm. Saban is more of an exception for his era.

If you are correct about the present day forward, short-term head coaches leading their teams to a national championship will not receive any official recognition from their institution housing their trophy until decades later. Hopefully, coaches of this era and in the future will have university-based hall of fames governed by non-university administrative agencies for their contributions. Like Schnellenberger. Like Johnson. Like Erickson.

I like the tenure counter-argument though, despite how athletes are judged with a separate standard of qualification.


These questions are not central to the OP. The thread is recognition afforded to Johnson for what he accomplished during his career as a football head coach.

That said, you are correct that Johnson preferred abbreviated tenures with schools and franchises. Perhaps, in another universe or reality, where Johnson was highly decorated college player and standout NFL player instead of a head coach, he could have received the recognition deserved in short order.

Depending on those governing the recognition process itself, that is. Jones is not the only person or persons who delay and/or deny official recognition to those who earn them. Just ask Chuck Howley. Finally in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drew Pearson. Ditto. Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Outside looking in. Etc., etc.

I do not see any of that changing on the collegiate level.
Lincoln Riley isn't going into OU's Hall of Honor, ever.

Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban have earned those calls.
Tenure 10000% matters. And where you finish matters.

In a sport where you only get 4 years of eligibility as player it very different but a guy who transfers out like Jalen Hurts did isn't going in Bama's Ring of honor either.

Neither Schellenberger or Erickson have made the U's Ring of Honor at all. Schnell at least elevated the program; Erickson just care took a good program and squad and is wildly overrated IMO. --The best player from my High School team played for Erickson at both the U and in the pros.

To be clear if Jimmy goes in, great. But this fan base acting like Jerry keeping him out is this unthinkable call is just goofy. Fans get played all the time and this is one of those cases.

Jimmy absolutely deserves credit for what he did as a coach in the sport. And the sport should reocgnize him. but given his brief tenures, individual team are a much tougher call. And why he is just now getting that first team Ring of Honor invite. Jimmy only won 44 games in Dallas. And his 44-36 record was a cumulative 55%.
Those are pretty meager stats. He has the two Super Bowls but not much else. Barry is a complete afterthought, and he won a Super Bowl and 40 games.

 

[jterrell]

For those who are referring to Johnson not staying long at each job, let's examine why that happened rather than just dismiss it as "that's how Jimmy is".

Oklahoma State - was offered the job at Miami, a much higher profile position. Most people would have done the same as it meant more money, a higher profile, and a shot at the NFL if you succeed at Miami.

Miam U - was offered the job for the Cowboys, a much higher profile position. Most people would have done the same as it meant more money, a higher profile, and a shot at the Hall of Fame if you succeed at Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys - No need to rehash this. We all know what transpired here.

Miami Dolphins - Here is where I will concede that Jimmy had reached the burn out stage, and he knew it was time to retire.

I reject the " that's just how Jimmy is" argument as ignoring context. The reasons he left his first two major jobs was because he had earned a better job offer, and most people are going to do the same thing. The Cowboys thing was just an unfortunate clash of egos, and in Miami he realized his time was up. It is just a coincidence that 5 years was a common factor.

This would be cool if Jimmy himself didn't contradict you.

He has stated plenty of times he needed new challenges and got bored easily.
He was angling for the Dolphins job 3 years into Hurricanes coach which is why Don Shula hated his guts.
He had no desire to be outside of Florida and was burned out in Dallas.
He literally tells the world this and dummies ignore it to put blame elsewhere.
He fully admits he couldn't afford to quit so had to get fired in Dallas but was dead set on getting to the Florida Keys.

Jimmy took a bad Dolphins job over a good Jacksonville job because he was so determined to live in the Keys. --which he has done for the rest of his life.

Jerry has been a doddering fool in many of his decisions as owner. Lacewell, Campo; you name the call and there are 100s but he isn't to blame for Jimmy leaving Dallas.
If anything, he was hurt Jimmy wanted out so badly when this was still an obvious dynasty at the time.