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Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson is an American former football coach and sports analyst best known for leading the Dallas Cowboys to consecutive Super Bowl titles and the Miami Hurricanes to a college football national championship.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jimmy Johnson is an American former football coach and sports analyst best known for leading the Dallas Cowboys to consecutive Super Bowl titles and the Miami Hurricanes to a college football national championship. He became the first head coach to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl. Johnson later worked as a television analyst for Fox Sports and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

Early life and education

Jimmy Johnson was born in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1943. He played college football at the University of Arkansas and began building a coaching career in the college ranks.

College coaching career

Johnson coached college football for 10 seasons, including stops at Oklahoma State and Miami. His Miami Hurricanes team won the 1987 national championship.

NFL coaching career

Johnson became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and helped build the team into a championship contender. The Cowboys won Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII under his leadership. He later coached the Miami Dolphins from 1996 to 1999.

Broadcasting and honours

After coaching, Johnson worked as an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

Key facts

  • Johnson coached at the college level for 10 seasons and in the NFL for nine seasons.
  • He won a college football national championship with the Miami Hurricanes in 1987.
  • He led the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl wins in the 1990s.
  • He was the first head coach to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl.
  • He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jimmy Johnson in American football?
Jimmy Johnson is a former American football coach and sports analyst known for his college and NFL coaching success.
What teams did Jimmy Johnson coach?
He coached Oklahoma State and Miami at the college level, and the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in the NFL.
What major championships did Jimmy Johnson win?
He won the 1987 college football national championship with Miami and two Super Bowls with Dallas.
Why is Jimmy Johnson notable?
He was the first head coach to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl.
Was Jimmy Johnson inducted into the Hall of Fame?
Yes. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_(American_football_coach)
    Supports: Full name, birth date, coaching career length, and distinction as first head coach to win both a college national championship and a Super Bowl.
  2. FOX Sports — https://www.foxsports.com/personalities/jimmy-johnson/bio
    Supports: Broadcasting career, consecutive Super Bowl wins with Dallas, and Pro Football Hall of Fame centennial class recognition.
  3. National Football Foundation — https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2319
    Supports: Birth information, coaching positions at Oklahoma State and Miami, and charitable involvement.
  4. Pro Football Hall of Fame — https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jimmy-johnson-coach
    Supports: Full name, birthdate, birthplace, and head coaching career timeline.
  5. Dallas Cowboys — https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/roh-jimmy-johnson
    Supports: Dallas head coaching tenure, Super Bowl championships, and Hall of Fame/Ring of Honor recognition.