After a 30-year battle, Jerry Jones finally announced that Jimmy Johnson would be inducted into the Ring of Honor. The legendary coach will be inducted on Dec. 30, 2023, when the Dallas Cowboys take on the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium.
Jimmy Johnson To Be Enshrined in Cowboys’ Ring of Honor
On the FOX broadcast, the announcement came about 20 minutes before kickoff at Bank of America Stadium when Jones announced with Johnson by his side.
The two discussed their history going back to 1961 at the University of Arkansas and reminisced on their Super Bowl-winning years.
“I can’t have thought then, can’t believe now that we were able to experience such a time in our lives, and you know Jimmy, they talk about the Ring of Honor… There’s never been any question for what you need to be in the Dallas Cowboys’ Ring of Honor,” said Jones.
Jerry Jones announces Jimmy Johnson will be inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. What a moment. pic.twitter.com/v6GcmEdL62
— Jess Nevarez (@JessNevarez_) November 19, 2023
In a press conference after the announcement, Jones said he thought it was time and he wanted to add Johnson to the Ring of Honor this year.
“Frankly, it just felt right; certainly, there was a little awkwardness that was happening for not doing it that I guess I anticipated… I wouldn’t have wanted that to linger any longer at all,” said Jones.
Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson on why this was the right time to put Jimmy in the Cowboys Ring of Honor pic.twitter.com/Sp57xTyCox
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 19, 2023
He told Johnson that he “had always been in,” but the question was when it would happen. Johnson joked back and said one reason it happened this year is because he is alive.
However, Johnson did admit that Jones had always told him he would be in the Ring of Honor at some point.
Speculation Leading Up to the Announcement
Jones and Johnson were spotted walking on the field together and talking, which sparked the speculation that something would happen.
Shortly after, Jones announced that he would have a press conference with the media after his appearance on the FOX broadcast.
Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson chopping it up here in Carolina pregame #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/Nz8o20fZWT
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) November 19, 2023
A Historic Road to the Ring of Honor for Johnson
This comes after three decades of the conversation of asking when Johnson will get the credit he receives for coaching the Cowboys to two of their five Super Bowl wins.
The conversation has always been related to a power struggle between the two.
MORE: Jerry Jones Discusses Significant Loss of Leighton Vander Esch for Rest of Season
But the discussion sparked once again in August 2021 when Jones and Johnson were on the FOX pregame show during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game broadcast, and Jones said the former coach would be in the Ring of Honor.
Former @dallascowboys QB @TroyAikman and current owner Jerry Jones join the set to talk with new Hall of Famer @JimmyJohnson and inform him that he will be joining the Cowboys Ring of Honor! ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/bINdwBiikw
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 5, 2021
Since then, there has been no movement in making this happen.
The conversation came up again when Jones announced that DeMarcus Ware would be inducted into the Ring of Honor.
When asked if he was waiting to put Johnson in the Ring of Honor, Jones said, “There’s no ‘waiting’ as much as it is how and when we do something,” Jones said. “The ‘waiting’ term isn’t a product of this process … in that sense, everybody that is going to go in there in the future is waiting.”
Johnson’s age came up in the same conversation, as he is now 80.
When asked about Johson’s age and if he is concerned about that being a factor, Jones had a witty response, saying, “He’s the youngest 80-year-old you’ll ever meet.” Also adding, “I’m right behind him. And this thing doesn’t run on an age meter. As a matter of fact, I would go the other way if somebody was accusing us of trying to beat the clock.”
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