Halftime usually is a good time to refresh. However, you missed a great moment if you stepped away from the FOX broadcast of the NFC Divisional round game between the Seahawks and Packers Sunday. Former Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson learned he is going to be part of the 2020 Class, much the way Bill Cowher did a day earlier.
Before entering the professional coaching ranks, Johnson spent 10 seasons as head coach of Oklahoma State and Miami (Fla.), during which he compiled an 81-34-3 record and led the Hurricanes to an undefeated season and national title in 1987.
In 1989, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys hired Johnson out of Miami to succeed Tom Landry as just the second coach in Cowboys history. Johnson won AP Coach of the Year for leading Dallas to a 7-9 mark in 1990. Dallas made the playoffs in 1991 and then secured back-to-back division titles in 1992 and 1993 en route to Super Bowl titles, as well. In Johnson’s five seasons in Dallas, the Cowboys went 44-36 in the regular season and 7-1 in the postseason. Five of his Cowboys players are also in the Hall of Fame (Aikman, Irvin, Smith, Larry Allen, Charles Haley).
Johnson parted ways with the Cowboys in the 1994 offseason, only to reemerge with the Dolphins in 1996 to replace another legendary coach in Don Shula. Johnson’s Dolphins never won the division but made the postseason three times and went 36-28 in four campaigns.
The 2x Super Bowl-winning coach of the @dallascowboys @JimmyJohnson is being inducted into the Hall of Fame 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/fdhodXaXMl
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 13, 2020
BREAKING: Former @dallascowboys head coach @JimmyJohnson has been elected to the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2020. #PFHOF20
Read More: https://t.co/dS4BaZmMiC pic.twitter.com/NMOpuc5I9k
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) January 13, 2020
Johnson was emotional and moved, to say the least.
Former @dallascowboys head coach @JimmyJohnson has been elected to the @ProFootballHOF as a member of the Class of 2020.
Incredible moment as he finds out he is now a Hall of Famer. #PFHOF20 (via @NFLonFOX) pic.twitter.com/EydJ1GDX8Y
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2020
At the 40-second mark below you can see Johnson’s former quarterback with the Cowboys, Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, getting misty, too.
All the feels.
Jimmy Johnson finds out he’s been selected for the Hall of Fame. Troy Aikman tearing up as he watches 😢pic.twitter.com/VI46I8nTcU
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 13, 2020
The announcement came a day after former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was surprised on the air for CBS.