Jerry Jones thanks Jimmy Johnson as his old coach officially goes into Cowboys Ring of Honor

Jimmy Johnson was placed in the Cowboys Ring of Honor on Saturday night. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Without question, it took too long for Jimmy Johnson to be put into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor. It probably happened 10 or even 20 years too late.

But the long wait did make the moment even more memorable. And emotional.

About 30 years after Johnson coached his last game with the Cowboys, he was officially put in the Cowboys Ring of Honor at halftime of Dallas’ game against the Detroit Lions.

With some of the biggest legends in Cowboys history on the field, including some of the key figures in the Cowboys’ championship teams of the 1990s that Johnson was instrumental in building, Jones introduced his former coach with a heartfelt speech.

“Not only did you inspire your players, and certainly you inspired our fans, but you need to hear how much you personally inspired me,” Jones said.

Johnson thanked assistant coaches, players, Cowboys fans and Jones as well.

“People have asked what this means to me. I’m so very, very proud of what we accomplished,” Johnson said during his speech on the field. “When I say we, it’s a lot of people. But more than anybody else, thank you Jerry Jones for bringing me to the Dallas Cowboys.”

At the end, Johnson punctuated his speech with a rousing “How ’bout them Cowboys!” as Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith hugged him with big smiles.

Johnson and Jones had one of the most infamous feuds in NFL history. A power struggle led to Jones and Johnson parting ways despite being in the middle of one of the best dynasties in NFL history. The Cowboys won two Super Bowls with Johnson, and one more without Johnson. Perhaps there woiuld have been many more championships if Jones and Johnson could have coexisted. The Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl since the end of the 1995 season.

Many former Cowboys were on hand for the occasion. That included Troy Aikman, who was working the game from the ESPN broadcast booth.

For Aikman, who shed tears…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2023-12-31 02:48:02

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