Jimmy Johnson became the first, and one of only two head coaches in football history, to win both a Super Bowl title (Dallas Cowboys-1992 & 1993) and an NCAA Championship (University of Miami-1987).
Johnson began his coaching career in 1965 as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech University. In 1967, he was an assistant at Wichita State and then moved on to serve under Johnny Majors at Iowa State University in 1968-69. In 1970, he moved on to another Big 8 school to become a defensive line coach at the University of Oklahoma, working alongside future rival Barry Switzer. In 1973, he returned to Arkansas, where he served as defensive coordinator through the 1976 season. For the 1977-78 season, he was an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh under Jackie Sherrill. His tenure at Pittsburgh was also highlighted by his introduction to a Pitt defensemen and then assistant coach Dave Wannstedt who eventually teamed up with Johnson again at the University of Miami, the Cowboys and the Dolphins. He coached for five seasons at Oklahoma State University from 1979-1983 before taking the head coaching job at the University of Miami.
In 1984, Johnson was hired by the University of Miami. Amidst an initial response of "Jimmy who?" by the fans and media and a shaky 8–5 record his first season, Johnson continued what came to be known as "The Decade of Dominance". In his five years at Miami, Johnson compiled a 52–9 record, appeared in five New Year's Day Bowl Games, winning one national championship (1987) and playing for a second.
Johnson's Hurricanes would post the school's first undefeated regular season the following year only to lose the National Championship Game that year to #2 Penn State. During the 1987 season, the team went undefeated for the regular season yet again and won the school's second National Title by defeating Johnson's old tormentor Oklahoma for the third season in a row.
In 1989, Jerry Jones, the new owner of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, a longtime friend and former University of Arkansas teammate of Johnson's, asked him to be the new head coach, replacing Tom Landry, who had coached the team since 1960. Johnson was reunited with former Miami standout Michael Irvin and in Johnson's first season as coach, the 1989 Cowboys went 1–15. Johnson's rebuilding of the team soon took off. This was due in part to Johnson's ability to find talent in the draft and by signing quality players as free agents (in the age before the NFL had imposed a salary cap). Jimmy Johnson served as head coach of the Cowboys from 1989 through 1993. He became only the fourth man in NFL history—after Vince Lombardi, Don Shula and Chuck Noll—to coach consecutive Super Bowl winners, winning Super Bowl XXVII in 1992 and Super Bowl XXVIII in 1993.
After the 1993 Super Bowl victory, Johnson walked away from the Cowboys and began work as a TV analyst with FOX Sports for two years before joining the Miami Dolphins as head coach in 1996, replacing legendary coach Don Shula. As a defensive specialist, Johnson was expected to put together a championship defense to finally give Dan Marino the Super Bowl championship that had previously eluded him. With complete control over personnel decisions, Johnson and his staff signed several excellent defensive players, drafting future pro bowlers Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.
For 24 hours in January 1999, Johnson resigned as Dolphins head coach, citing burnout. He reversed his decision after Dan Marino pleaded with him to come back and Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga brought in Dave Wannstedt as Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach. After a frustrating season, Johnson retired as head coach of the Dolphins.
After leaving the Dolphins, Johnson became a TV studio analyst again for FOX Sports and is currently a pregame analyst for FOX NFL SUNDAY. He also pens a column on Foxsports.com.
He currently lives in the Florida Keys where he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.
Jimmy Johnson, legendary NFL coach and analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, is available through IMG Speakers bureau for speaking engagements. Jimmy Johnson is also available for celebrity appearances, corporate hospitality events, meet and greets, and much more. Please contact IMG Speakers at 212-774-6735 or speakers@imgworld.com for more information on booking Jimmy Johnson.
