Jimmy Johnson claps back at narrative he needed Jerry Jones, praises Cowboys owner

A Dallas Cowboys fan decided to go after Jimmy Johnson on social media, wondering what the legendary head coach did “without Jerry” Jones in the NFL. Johnson was quick to reply and pointed out some of the successes he had with the Miami Dolphins.

“Playoffs 3 straight years,” Johnson said via X. “Won 2 playoff games. Miami hasn’t won a playoff game in 24 years.”

The only year Johnson did not make the playoffs with Miami came in 1996 after an 8-8 regular season. He then rattled off three consecutive postseason appearances, something the franchise had not done since the mid-1980s. To this day, the Dolphins have not gotten into the dance three years in a row.

And as Johnson pointed out, the last playoff win for them came during the 2000 season. A young Peyton Manning was on the other side but Dave Wannstedt was Miami’s head coach. Johnson moved on and never got back into the coaching world.

Johnson wanted to make it known that he did fine coaching in the NFL outside of Dallas. While the same Super Bowl success may not have come, the Dolphins have not enjoyed a stretch like the one Johnson provided since then. The wait for a playoff win will continue as well.

At the same time, there is still a ton of respect between Johnson and Jones. In a follow-up tweet, Johnson made sure to give credit to the work the Cowboys’ owner has done over the years.

“Give Jerry credit,” Johnson said. “He is a tireless worker, has great passion and is the finest marketer and businessman I have ever known.”

No matter the dynamic in Dallas, there is no denying the success Johnson and Jones shared. Two Super Bowl rings are in Johnson’s possession, having done so in back-to-back years. Johnson may not have been with the team but certainly played a role in the Cowboys winning their third Lombardi Trophy during the decade. A personal achievement came in 1990 as well, earning AP NFL Coach of the Year.

Jones finally decided to put Johnson inside the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2023. A moment a ton of fans were waiting for, Johnson got his moment during halftime of a game against the Detroit Lions. Plenty of former players were in attendance, down on the field and even in the broadcast booth as Troy Aikman was calling the game for ESPN on Monday Night Football.