Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made his weekly appearance on 105.3 the Fan and discussed his thought process of putting Jimmy Johnson in the Ring of Honor.
What Changed Jerry Jones’ Mind?
Jones shed more light on the decision to add Johnson to the Ring of Honor, saying he felt an animosity when the team inducted DeMarcus Ware in October.
That feeling motivated him to get Johnson into the Ring of Honor this year.
“Jimmy [Johnson] for me was always after he left the Cowboys, and we enjoyed the kinds of success that we had with his involvement in those early 90s, he was always there for the Ring of Honor,” said Jones.
The owner also mentioned that the Cowboys’ work to honor the Medal of Honor recipients the week prior was why the announcement was made at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.
Jones also mentioned doing the induction ceremony on December 30, 2023, when the Cowboys play the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium and will be broadcasted on ESPN, meaning Troy Aikman will be in attendance for this moment.
Jimmy Johnson “Fits the Bill” for the Ring of Honor
The owner discussed his conversation with Tex Schramm about the Ring of Honor when buying the Cowboys in 1989. Jones said Schramm told him to make the Ring of Honor about people who impacted the franchise’s direction.
“He fit that bill in my mind when I started making the call on the Ring of Honor when Tex [Schramm] left. He fit that bill immediately at the end of his five years,” said Jones.
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The owner mentioning that Johnson only having been a coach for the Cowboys for five years and being inducted into the Ring of Honor makes it “that much more exceptional.”
Johnson will be the second coach in the Ring of Honor, joining legendary coach Tom Landry, who was with the team for 25 years.
Is “The Curse” Broken?
Cowboys Nation has always poked fun that once Johnson was inducted into the Ring of Honor, the Super Bowl drought that the Cowboys have suffered for over two decades will disappear.
Jones was asked about the curse and if the Cowboys have lifted the curse with Johnson’s induction, to which he laughed and said he would believe in anything that helps the team get another Lombardi Trophy.
“I’m a superstitious guy, so I guess I must believe in that as well,” said Jones, who ended the conversation by stating he has no negative feelings toward Johnson.
A Long History With Jones and Johnson
The owner said the two have their own story that dates back to their time at the University of Arkansas.
He says it was a fortunate situation to end up in the position he did with Johnson as the head coach and reminisced on Aikman’s selection in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft and the notorious Herschel Walker trade that same year.
“He’s always motivated me, motivated me when we got together to be here. He certainly deserves to be recognized,” Jones said.
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