Dallas Cowboys icon goes public with fresh dig at Jerry Jones to leave franchise furious
Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones have had a long history together.
They played college football together at the University of Arkansas, winning a national championship in 1964.
When Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys, and turned them into the NFL’s most valuable franchise, he brought in Johnson to be the head coach.
‘America’s Team’ was born, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1992 and 1993, but behind the scenes, the relationship was unraveling.
Constant disagreements regarding credit for roster construction control over the team boiled over specatularly at a 1994 dinner.
A week after Jones told reporters: “There are 500 coaches who could have won the Super Bowl with our team,” Johnson left the NFL owners meeting early, and a week later, left the Cowboys.
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The debate over who built the championship team seems to have no end, and was brought into focus once again by Johnson on X.
Jimmy Johnson posts image of Cowboys contract
“Does this explain Cowboys responsibilities?,” Johnson captioned the post.
“Johnson shall have the following duties and responsibilities,” his contract read.
“(1) No assistant football coach, trainer, equipment man or strength coach shall be fired or employed by Employer without the prior approval of Johnson.
“(2) Johnson shall have the right of prior approval with respect to acquisition, releasing and trading of all football players of the Dallas Cowboys.
“(3) Johnson shall have complete control of all assistant coaches, players, trainers and equipment men during training, practice, preparation for and the actual playing of games.”
According to local reporters such a development is not sitting well with the Cowboys, or their owner.
“The Cowboys are not happy with this post,” veteran Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. posted on X.
It seemed like tension had been dissolved when Jones inducted Johnson into the Cowboys ring of honor in 2023, but the tweet still proves there a little animosity.
Johnson bringing proof of his role into the public domain has stirred up plenty of feeling and in his view underlines that he was not only coaching them to victory, but putting together the roster as well.
It remains to be seen if the Cowboys, and in turn, Jones himself, respond to this, but it’s not exactly what Dallas need.
This offseason the Cowboys have quietly built a very competitive roster, led by quarterback Dak Prescott.
Signing veteran pass rusher Von Miller to a smart one-year deal should help Jerry Jones finally get back to the NFL’s biggest stage.
The Cowboys are adamant that they’re Super Bowl or bust in 2026. It would be their first since Johnson departed the franchise in 1994.
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