NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history

By Hans Themistode

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines during the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines during the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 31
Next
Jerry Jones and Jimmie Johnson
Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

NFL: 30 of the biggest what-ifs in NFL history: 23. Jerry Jones makes it work with Jimmy Johnson

At one point, mentioning the Dallas Cowboys as Super Bowl contenders didn’t incite widespread laughter. Although it’s been several decades, the Cowboys were once the model franchise. With Jerry Jones purchasing the team in the late 1980s, he brought in Jimmy Johnson to take control and coach up his new squad.

Everything went great for the Cowboys early on as they pocketed two Super Bowl rings in the early 90s. Then, something interesting started happening. Regardless of the success, both Johnson and Jones began butting heads. Jones, unsurprisingly, wanted more power and Johnson was unwilling to cede control. Once Johnson was let go soon after. The Cowboys would win one more Super Bowl in 1995 but since then, not only have they failed to make it to the final game but they haven’t even made it to the NFC Championship game.

During his time, Johnson was easily considered one of the best coaches in the league. What would’ve happened if they never bickered back and forth? Would the championship mantle of Jones and the Cowboys have considerably more hardware? It seems likely. Johnson was simply too good of a coach to allow the Cowboys to go on a championship drought that has now spanned decades.

Home/NFL