The Dallas Cowboys have had a long-running championship drought. Although it’s been over 20 years since their last Super Bowl win, they won a Super Bowl with Jimmy Johnson and starting the streak of four championships in five seasons including three straight world titles. However, those glory days are now considered by many to be one of the biggest coaching blunders in NFL history because that continued success was followed up with two more losing seasons where the team missed out on high draft picks due to terrible records under coach Chan Gailey. Despite all this, Jerry Jones believes there were positives from his decision as he has always known how to separate winning from money in order for him not get too caught up into what is going on at any given moment
The “nfl news” is a topic that has been discussed for quite some time now. Jimmy Johnson’s biggest coaching regret was a 1-year issue for him but a long-term disaster for the Dallas Cowboys.
Highlights of the article:
- Michael Strahan was drafted in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by Jimmy Johnson.
- Strahan, a future Hall of Fame defender, was selected six spots ahead of the Cowboys by the New York Giants.
- Johnson’s greatest regret is missing out on Strahan, although they would have only spent one season together in Dallas.
Jimmy Johnson, a Pro Football Hall of Fame entrant, has spent more time on television as an NFL pundit than he did as a championship-winning college and pro coach. He’s had some time to reflect about which of his three championship years was his favorite. It would have to be a difficult decision since he was instrumental in the success of the University of Miami and the Dallas Cowboys.
He’s also had time to consider his biggest regret, which Johnson claims is a simple choice. It’s worth noting, however, that the blunder he mentions damaged the Cowboys much more than it did Johnson.
Jimmy Johnson has coached NCAA and NFL championship teams.
Jimmie Johnson, a Fox Sports commentator, was slated to pick future broadcast partner Michael Strahan in 1993, but the New York Giants snatched him up six positions ahead of the Dallas Cowboys. | Getty Images/Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
Jimmy Johnson’s record at Oklahoma State was just 29-25-3 over five seasons, but he left the school in better shape than he found it. In 1984, he transferred to the University of Miami, where Howard Schnellenberger had recently won a national championship and Johnson had gone 52-9 with a championship of his own.
When Johnson’s college buddy Jerry Jones decided to acquire the Dallas Cowboys, he chose him to coach a team in disarray. The Cowboys improved to 7-9 the next year after going 1-15 in 1989 while cleaning house.
The team went 36-12 over the following three years, winning Super Bowls 27 and 28 against the Buffalo Bills. The fallout between Jones and Johnson that sent them their separate ways at the time has been well chronicled, and the Cowboys went on to win another championship two seasons later under Barry Switzer.
Johnson returned to the NFL in 1996 for a four-year tenure with the Miami Dolphins, and then joined former teammates Michael Strahan, Howie Long, and Terry Bradshaw on Fox Sports’ Sunday NFL coverage.
Johnson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2020 Class.
Jimmy Johnson’s greatest coaching regret was his blunder with Michael Strahan.
Jimmy Johnson stated this week on Fox’s NFL program, during a conversation about the New York Giants retiring Michael Strahan’s number, that the 1993 NFL Draft didn’t go as he had wanted, and that the Dallas Cowboys missed out on a potential Hall of Fame defensive end.
Johnson told Strahan, “The greatest regret I have in my whole career included you.” “We’re getting ready for the draft right now.” Michael was flown up to Dallas by me. I took a seat next to him. I informed him that I would be drafting him. I was constantly searching for a discount, Texas Southern, since he came from a little school. So I figured I’d be able to grab him late in the second round.”
On draft day, the Cowboys had the 46th and 54th overall selections, and Johnson went so far as to send a scout to Strahan’s house. The Giants, on the other hand, took 40th overall and selected Strahan. He would go on to have a 15-year career with 141.5 sacks.
Johnson told Strahan, “I wasn’t able to pick you, but it came out quite well for you.” You and the Giants won a Super Bowl, and I did well.”
Only one season would have been plenty for the coach and future Hall of Fame player to work together.
Losing a 15-year veteran affects any NFL franchise, and the Dallas Cowboys were no exception when it came to Michael Strahan. The Cowboys finished 10-6 in 1996 after winning their third NFL title in four seasons, and then slumped. In the last eight years, the squad has only had two winning seasons.
Strahan’s most productive period was from 1997 through 2005, when he averaged 12.4 sacks a season. During that time period, Greg Ellis, a solid defensive end himself, was the only Cowboy to record nine sacks in a season. During that time, the Cowboys never had a season with more than 38 sacks.
Placing Strahan and Ellis, who joined the Cowboys in 1998, on opposite ends of the line might have alleviated some of the Cowboys’ problems.
In the end, though, Jimmy Johnson’s loss of Strahan proved to be of little significance. That’s because Strahan’s first season in the NFL ended up being the Cowboys’ last.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
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