'Most fun I ever had': Jimmy Johnson retires after three decades as Fox NFL analyst

More than 3 decades aft archetypal making the leap from the NFL sideline to a TV studio, Jimmy Johnson is retiring from his longtime relation arsenic an expert connected “Fox NFL Sunday.”

The 81-year-old Johnson made the announcement Monday greeting during an quality connected “The Herd With Colin Cowherd.”

“The astir amusive I ever had successful my career, and that’s counting Super Bowls and nationalist championships, was astatine Fox Sports,” Johnson said. “I person an implicit shot with my friends connected the acceptable — champion friends I’ve ever had — determination with Fox. ...”

“But I’ve made an highly hard decision. I’ve been reasoning astir it for the past 4 oregon 5 years, and I’ve decided to discontinue from Fox. I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss each the guys, and I’ll spot them occasionally. It’s been a large tally starting backmost 31 years ago.”

Fox NFL did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected immoderate imaginable replacements for Johnson.

Johnson was a antiaircraft lineman astatine the University of Arkansas and helped the Razorbacks triumph the nationalist rubric successful 1964. He aboriginal was named to the school’s all-decade squad for the 1960s and was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame successful 1999.

After college, Johnson went into coaching. His archetypal caput coaching occupation was astatine Oklahoma State from 1979-1983, past helium moved connected to the University of Miami, wherever helium coached the Hurricanes to the nationalist title pursuing the 1987.

In 1989, Johnson accepted the Dallas Cowboys occupation from squad proprietor Jerry Jones, a erstwhile teammate from the Arkansas nationalist title squad decades earlier. Following a triumph implicit San Francisco in the NFC title game connected Jan. 17, 1993, Johnson solidified his lasting successful squad lore by greeting his players with what has go 1 of the champion known rhetorical questions successful the NFL: “How ‘bout them Cowboys?”

After starring Dallas to triumph successful Super Bowl XXVII and XXVIII, Johnson parted ways with Jones and the Cowboys aft the 2nd title successful 1994. Johnson was 1 of the archetypal hires — on with existent analysts Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long — for the fledgling “Fox NFL Sunday” workplace amusement successful 1994. Johnson departed successful 1996 to go caput manager of the Miami Dolphins earlier returning to the amusement successful 2002.

“Jimmy Johnson was determination erstwhile Fox NFL Sunday came on-air for the archetypal clip 31 years ago, and since past has been a cherished subordinate of our Fox Sports family, which makes today’s status quality bittersweet,” Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks said successful a statement. “Jimmy served arsenic an inspiration to generations of shot fans with his legendary swagger, one-of-a-kind wrong and signature humor.”

Michael Strahan, who has appeared connected the amusement with Johnson since 2008, wrote connected X: “It has been 17 seasons of amusive and laughs sitting adjacent to you. You’re genuinely 1 of a benignant and acknowledgment for being you and gifting maine with 1 of the champion friendships anyone could ever inquire for. Hope you bask sportfishing and drinking beers connected the boat. You merit it.”