One of the best-known NFL studio analysts has called it a career.
Jimmy Johnson, who served as a studio analyst for Fox NFL Sunday for more than 25 years, announced his retirement Monday during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
In a statement, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks said Johnson “served as an inspiration to generations of football fans with his legendary swagger, one-of-a-kind insight and signature humor … Coach will be sincerely missed and we wish him the best as he sets sail into retirement, like only Jimmy Johnson can.”
Johnson joined Fox for its inaugural season of NFL coverage in 1994 when the network took over rights from CBS, rounding out the initial cast of James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, and Howie Long. Johnson was integral in establishing the tone of the show, which carried a lighthearted, humorous nature in contrast to the no-nonsense approach CBS had taken.
After two seasons with Fox, Johnson left to coach the Miami Dolphins in 1996. He resumed his television role in 2002 and has been with Fox ever since. Outside of the network’s flagship NFL studio show, Johnson also appeared in the studio for coverage of the Bowl Championship Series during its run with Fox.
Few will forget the moment during Fox’s 2020 NFL playoff coverage when Johnson was met with the surprise announcement of his nomination to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, prompting a tearful response from Johnson, his studio colleagues, and his former QB Troy Aikman.
Speculation about Johnson’s retirement began several weeks ago, as Fox aired a retrospective feature on Johnson’s career during its Super Bowl LIX pregame coverage.
Johnson, 81, has always been the oldest member of the Fox NFL crew (save for one season that featured fellow Cowboy Barry Switzer). With his departure, Bradshaw will fill the role of elder statesman. Fox has made attempts to pivot to a younger crew with the introduction of Rob Gronkowski.
Any discussion of Johnson’s legacy is not complete without mention of his celebrated coaching career, in which he won two Super Bowls as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, along with tenure with Oklahoma State and the Miami Hurricanes, and the aforementioned stint with the Miami Dolphins.
