Jimmy Johnson, an American sports analyst and former football coach, had a career spanning from 1979 to 1988 as a head football coach in collegiate levels and for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Bio/Wiki
Age- 80 years
Height- 5 foot 7 inches
Weight-72kg
Full name-James William Johnson
Born- 16 July 1943
Birth place-Port Arthur, Texas, United States
Spouse-Rhonda Rookmaaker (m. 1999), Linda Kay Cooper (m. 1963–1990)
Profession-American sports coach
Nationality- American
Past teams coached-Miami Dolphins (Head coach, 1996–1999), MORE
Position-Defensive lineman
Family
James William Johnson was born on July 16, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, United States, to parents C.W. Johnson Jr. and Allene Johnson.
Wife and Children
Johnson tied the knot with Linda Kay Cooper on July 12, 1963, and they had two sons together. However, they divorced in January 1990. Subsequently, on July 18, 1999, Johnson married Rhonda Rookmaaker. As of 2010, he resides in Islamorada, located in the Florida Keys.
Education
Johnson studied at Thomas Jefferson High School, which is currently known as Memorial High School, in Port Arthur, Texas. During his high school years, he was classmates with Janis Joplin, who later became a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
Career
Jimmy Johnson, born on July 16, 1943, in Port Arthur, Texas, played college football as a defensive lineman at the University of Arkansas from 1962 to 1964. His achievements include helping the Razorbacks win the national championship in 1964, earning a spot on the All Southwest Conference team, and being inducted into Arkansas’ state athletic hall of fame in 1988 and the university’s hall of fame in 1999.
Coaching Career
Johnson began his coaching career as an assistant at various institutions, including Louisiana Tech University and Wichita State University. He later became the defensive line coach at the University of Oklahoma and then the defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas. In 1977, he joined the University of Pittsburgh as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
In 1979, Johnson got his first head coaching job at Oklahoma State University, where he successfully rebuilt the program. He was later hired by the University of Miami in 1984, replacing Howard Schnellenberger. During his tenure, he led Miami to great success and was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
In 1989, Johnson became the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. Under his guidance, the team quickly transformed into a championship contender, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993. Despite his success, Johnson’s relationship with the team’s owner, Jerry Jones, became strained, leading to his departure in 1994.
After working as a television analyst, Johnson joined the Miami Dolphins as head coach in 1996, replacing Don Shula. He resigned in January 1999, citing burnout, but later reconsidered his decision after quarterback Dan Marino pleaded with him to return. Johnson eventually left coaching, and in a 2021 interview, he revealed a missed opportunity to trade for Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL draft.
Television Career
Following his departure from the Dolphins, Johnson returned to his role as a TV studio analyst for Fox Sports and currently serves as an on-air staff member on Fox NFL Sunday. He has been featured as a studio analyst for Fox’s coverage of the Bowl Championship Series in January, hosted by Chris Rose. Additionally, Johnson writes a column for Foxsports.com. Apart from his television work, he has made various guest or cameo appearances in both film and television. For instance, he appeared as a bearded prisoner in the television series The Shield, had a guest role in the episode “Johnsonwreckers” on Coach in 1994, and made a cameo appearance in the movie The Waterboy, alongside Bill Cowher.
Achievements/ Awards
NFL Achievements
- Two-time Super Bowl champion as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys (XXVII, XXVIII)
- Named 1990 AP NFL Coach of the Year
NCAA Achievements
- Won two National championships:
- 1964 as a player with the Arkansas Razorbacks (FWAA)
- 1987 as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes
- Awarded the 1986 Walter Camp Coach of the Year
Media Recognition
- Received the 1993 Outstanding Team ESPY Award as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys
Hall of Fame Inductions
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020
Net Worth 2023
Through his coaching career, Johnson amassed a considerable fortune. Recent reports indicate that his net worth stands at approximately $45 million as of 2023.
Johnson operated the Three Rings restaurant in Miami and currently owns JJ’s Big Chill, a bar and grill situated in Key Largo, Florida. The name “Three Rings” symbolizes the championships he won as a head coach. He once had a restaurant with the same name in Oklahoma City, which is no longer in operation. Additionally, his fishing boat, located behind his home in Islamorada, Florida, shares the name “Three Rings.”
Latest News about Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson Reacts to Cowboys’ Loss to Eagles
The highly anticipated matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles carried significant playoff implications. Despite some minor yet costly mistakes made by the Cowboys, the Eagles emerged as the dominant team in the NFC East, securing a 28-23 victory in NFL Week 9 Sunday. Johnson examined the Cowboys’ performance in the red zone, highlighting two pivotal plays that ultimately shifted the game in favor of the Eagles.
“For the viewer, it was a great ballgame,” Johnson said. “But you look at the game of inches; If they execute the rub route just a little better. (Luke) Schoonmaker makes it into the end zone. Or (Dak) Prescott doesn’t step out of bounds. It’s just a little bit more, they could’ve kicked a field goal at the very end.
To provide additional context to the plays, at the 1-inch line, Cowboys’ rookie tight end Schoonmaker managed a successful catch. However, an early tackle by the Eagles prevented him from advancing, leading to no score.
Furthermore, following a touchdown pass to Cowboys’ receiver Jason Tolbert, Dak Prescott, while attempting the two-point conversion, stepped out of bounds before reaching the end zone. Prescott’s unsuccessful attempt had the potential to alter the game significantly, as the Cowboys would have been just a field-goal attempt away from tying the Eagles later on.
