Dallas Cowboys: Ranking the Coaches of ‘America’s Team’
2. Jimmy Johnson
(1989-93)
Wins: 44, Losses: 36
Think about just how good Jimmy Johnson was as the head coach of the Cowboys … he started with a 1-15 team his rookie season, and when he coached his final game in the franchise, the Cowboys had won their second consecutive Super Bowl championship.
In eight playoff games as the leader of “America’s Team,” the Cowboys went 7-1 with the two Super Bowl championships, and imagine what would have happened if he would have stayed with the franchise after winning that second Super Bowl.
If Johnson would have stayed, I don’t hesitate in believing the franchise would have won three straight titles, but my imagination has been known to play a trick or two on me.
Besides the Super Bowl titles, what Johnson should be remembered for is having the guts and brilliance to trade Herschel Walker in 1989 when the Cowboys were at their lowest point, eventually turning that trade into what became the nucleus of those aforementioned championship teams.
Johnson finished with a .550 winning percentage, but think about this: 15 of his 36 losses came in the first season. After that one-win season, the Cowboys had the following records with Johnson:
1990: 7-9
1991: 11-5
1992: 13-3 (SB Champs)
1993: 12-4 (SB Champs)
With all that he accomplished with the Cowboys, especially being the guy who had to replace the great Tom Landry, Johnson did a great job, and he doesn’t get enough credit for all his teams did, meaning he deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next to other great legends.
Next: No. 1: The Face of the Dallas Cowboys