Following a 55-year football-involved career, the legendary Jimmy Johnson is retiring from Fox Sports. The two-time Super Bowl champion spent 30 years in the NFL as a coach and front-office member. Now, after 25 more seasons with Fox, the 81-year-old earns a much-deserved rest.
Johnson’s Multiple-Decade Run With Fox Comes to an End
After debating the decision for four-plus years, Johnson knows that now is the time to hang it up.
Jimmy Johnson just announced his retirement from Fox Sports on The Herd pic.twitter.com/bpBzbR2XSz
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 3, 2025
“As you know, the most fun I’ve ever had in my career, and that’s counting Super Bowls and National Championships, was at Fox Sports,” Johnson said.
Johnson went on to discuss his co-workers describing them as “the best friends” he has ever had. The former Dallas Cowboys head coach continued to give thanks, mentioning the show’s CEO, Eric Shanks, and how brilliant he was to work with as well.
Fox Sports CEO’s Message to Johnson
Following the outpour of thank you’s and goodbyes, Shanks joined along leaving a heartfelt message to Johnson.
How about that @JimmyJohnson! Congratulations coach, thank you and all the best from your @FOXSports and @NFLonFOX family as you set sail into retirement. pic.twitter.com/PLz98dYNjf
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) March 3, 2025
Shanks elaborates on Johnson’s role as somewhat of a pioneer with Fox Sports and just how much his presence elevated the program.
“We’re incredibly grateful for his contributions in making FOX NFL SUNDAY the top pregame show on TV, where we shared countless memorable moments, highlighted by surprising him live on-air with the news he was being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an occasion we will never forget,” Shanks said.
That highlight moment Shanks described brought Johnson to tears and showed just how much not only the award meant to him, but who was along to experience it with him too.
Jimmy Johnson getting a surprise NFL Hall of Fame induction live on air will make you tear up 🥹
Congrats on an incredible career, Coach 👏 pic.twitter.com/NcB7uydiXU
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) March 3, 2025
The Fascinating Career of an All-Timer
The aforementioned Super Bowls and National Championships will undoubtedly be some of the first things that come to mind when talking about Johnson’s greatness. His back-to-back Super Bowl titles with the Cowboys will forever go down as a monumental achievement. Just six years before that, he won a National Championship with Miami University in 1987.
Johnson is once again a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame as well. Individually, Johnson was an AP NFL Coach of the Year in 1990, the Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1979, and Walter Camp Coach of the Year in 1986.
Finally, following his classy football career, Johnson’s TV appearances dazzled and touched the masses. Not only was he one of the first members on Fox Sports, Johnson even competed on the renowned reality TV series, Survivor. Here, on the 21st season of the show, Johnson was voted out early on due to his age and inability in physically taxing challenges.
This did not stop his cast mates from shedding a tear and falling for coach just like so many others along the way.