From day one, a legendary coach-QB bond between Jimmy Johnson and Troy Aikman should have been a certainty. The circle of football? Shoulda, woulda, coulda, don’t wok…
In 1989, when Johnson took over the Cowboys and Aikman was the first overall pick, their relationship was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t exactly Montana and Walsh. Johnson, always playing 4D chess, threw a wrench into the mix by drafting another quarterback, Steve Walsh. That’s like signing a franchise QB, then immediately swiping right on another.
Naturally, Aikman wasn’t thrilled. Trust was shaky. And after a brutal 1-15 season, it seemed like this duo was headed for the football version of divorce court.
Fast forward to now, after bringing two Super Bowls to the Big D, and retiring from a 31-year-old broadcasting career, Johnson finally spilled the details on his dynamic with Aikman while on ‘The Herd’ with Colin Cowherd. When asked about their relationship, Johnson didn’t sugarcoat it: “No, it wasn’t always right there.” Turns out, their bond started with some good ol’ quarterback drama. Johnson always knew Aikman was his guy, but he had to play it cool—hyping up both QBs to maximize Walsh’s trade value.
“We had a strained relationship that first year because I drafted Steve Walsh with a supplemental pick. And I knew Troy was our guy, but I wanted to take Steve Walsh because quarterbacks are so valuable. I knew that I would be able to trade him. I actually started trying to trade Steve Walsh a month or two after I drafted him,” Johnson admitted to Cowherd.
Basically, if we cut to the chase here: it was like knowing you’ve got a Pro Bowler but still pretending your backup is a hidden gem. Aikman, understandably, wasn’t buying it.
So, that first season? Rough.
Losing doesn’t exactly bring people closer, and Johnson admitted, “We went 1-15—that’ll strain any relationship.” But once Walsh was out the door, Johnson shifted gears. He made an effort to repair things with Aikman, and slowly, the ice thawed. By the time they were hoisting Lombardi Trophies, the bad blood had turned into something much deeper. Aikman wasn’t just Johnson’s quarterback—he was becoming family. “Like I said, we’re best friends, now… It’s fantastic,” Johnson said.
And if there was any doubt, look no further than Johnson’s Hall of Fame induction moment. When the announcement came live on FOX, Johnson—usually as tough as a goal-line stand—was in tears. Aikman? Up in the booth, just as emotional, soaking it all in. “Jimmy has never been appreciated in Dallas for what he accomplished,” Aikman said. That moment wasn’t just about the Hall. It was years of built-up respect finally pouring out. Aikman had seen Johnson transform a disaster into a dynasty, and he knew how much the recognition meant.
But here’s the kicker: This connection actually started way before the Cowboys. Back in high school, Aikman was a top recruit, and Johnson—then coaching at Oklahoma State—was the first head coach to visit his home. The two nearly teamed up in college before Barry Switzer worked his recruiting magic at Oklahoma. And later, when Aikman transferred from OU, Johnson came calling again at Miami. It never happened, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Their paths kept crossing, almost as if fate had them on a collision course.
Even after their early Dallas drama, Johnson eventually cracked the Aikman code. He wasn’t just coaching a quarterback—he was figuring out how to connect with him. It was well-documented in the dallascowboys.com’s article titled, ‘How Jimmy Johnson’s Bond With Aikman Evolved.’
By 1992, the two started building a real bond, one Heineken at a time. Johnson recalled a conversation where Aikman casually joked, “One day, you and me are gonna be riding around in a convertible like Roger Staubach.” That stuck with him. A few weeks later, after a win in New York, Johnson pulled Aikman aside and said, “You have no idea how much that meant to me.”
The walls were coming down.
Their relationship hit another level when Johnson, ever the perfectionist, lost a tough game to Washington in ’92. He was fuming, but Aikman showed up to the team Christmas party, anyway. They ended up talking about fish tanks—yes, fish tanks. Next thing Aikman knew, Johnson was at his house, building one. “It should be noted I did nothing but drink Heinekens. Jimmy built all of it,” Aikman laughed. That’s when their bond became more than just football. The coach who once kept his distance was now showing up on Aikman’s day off just to check on the fish.
Looking back, Aikman knows the Johnson he sees now—relaxed, living life in the Florida Keys—is a far cry from the obsessive, laser-focused guy who ran the Cowboys. “He’s complicated and brilliant, but his edges are a little softer now,” Aikman said. And maybe that’s why their relationship works so well today.
Time, success, and, let’s be honest, a couple of beers helped turn what was once a strained partnership into one of the most respected friendships in NFL history. In the end, the quarterback-coach duo that once seemed destined to fail turned into something legendary—just not in the way anyone expected. Maybe not even Jerry Jones could have foreseen it.
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