The weight of a legacy isn’t always felt in the moment. It builds over time, woven into the echoes of old victories, the scars of hard-fought battles, and the quiet gratitude of those who lived it. For Michael Irvin, that weight hit him all at once. The Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the early ’90s wasn’t just about championships—it was about transformation. Jimmy Johnson didn’t just coach football; he built men, instilled belief, and demanded greatness. Decades later, that impact still runs deep.
“How ’bout them Cowboys?” Since these legendary words came out of Jimmy Johnson’s mouth, America’s team has never been the same. It was January 17, 1993, and the Cowboys were well-prepared going into the playoffs. Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, and Johnson fueled their ambition to win Dallas its first Super Bowl since 1978, on January 31, 1993—the rest is history. And again, the Cowboys went back to back. Now, looking back at those days, the Cowboys really earned the moniker of America’s Team during Johnson’s era. So when Irvin recently found himself reflecting on those years, on the man who shaped his career and his life, the emotions were too strong to hold back.
After Irvin expressed his heartfelt feelings about Johnson, the Cowboys’ former HC replied with a tribute. The 81-year-old took to X and wrote, “Michael has always been one of my SPECIAL GUYS! Love him!” And talking about special guys, we can’t resist taking a look at how many great players have been part of Johnson’s life as both a player and a coach.
Micheal has always been one of my SPECIAL GUYS! Love him! https://t.co/MdJ5j63DOy
— Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) April 2, 2025
First of all, Jerry Jones. Who can forget that 1964 national championship for the University of Arkansas, where Johnson and Jones outperformed everyone? That bond continued for years and led to Johnson becoming the Cowboys’ head coach in 1989. During his college years, Packers legend Terry Bradshaw played under his leadership. And if we take a snapshot of his great NFL career, there come Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin.
Michael Irvin joined the Cowboys one year before the team inducted Johnson as head coach in 1989. In Johnson’s first year in charge, Jerry Jones’ franchise suffered a terrible season with 1 win and 15 losses. But despite the cursed start, Johnson’s impact on the team, players individually, and the franchise in his second and third years in Dallas was immense. It’s a sad reality that after Jimmy Johnson’s back-to-back Lombardis, the Cowboys have only won one more Super Bowl. That was way back in 1996, with major imprints of Jimmy all over the squad.
Some call it the Jimmy Johnson Curse, but that’s a different story. Cowboys fans, believe in your team. Who knows, Jerry Jones’ squad might finally break the curse this year. But before the season starts on September 6, 2025, Michael Irvin couldn’t resist giving a tribute to his coach. He got emotional while talking about Jimmy Johnson’s impact on his life.
Jimmy Johnson: A lighthouse in Michael Irvin’s NFL career
Michael Irvin recently appeared on the Fanatics View Podcast on YouTube. When the host asked Irvin about the learnings, ups, and downs during his NFL journey, he couldn’t hold back from talking about Jimmy Johnson. He recalled something from 1988, the year before Johnson entered the Cowboys’ headquarters, and he just broke down. Irvin stopped multiple times while talking about Johnson.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 01: Jimmy Johnson attends the 9th Annual NFL Honors at Adrienne Arsht Center on February 01, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
“Then Jimmy came in that next year, and what Jimmy did, he even took it to another level. Jimmy took it off the football field, and I’m… I mean… I get emotional talking about it because he was so good.” After saying this, Irvin held back his tears for a few seconds and stopped talking.
Then, while continuing his thoughts on Johnson’s impact, Irvin recalled better days with Jimmy. “A lot of guys coming from a lot of broken areas—we had nothing, man, and we all knew it.” Irvin then tried to reiterate and recall how Johnson used to keep the guys disciplined with every meeting on Thursday.
What made Irvin sentimental here was Jimmy Johnson’s emotional bond with players and how he made them great with the little or nothing they had. Absolutely GOAT stuff. May this fire continue to light up young hearts in the Cowboys and indeed across the NFL.
The post Cowboys Legend Jimmy Johnson Pays Tribute As Teary-Eyed Michael Irvin Makes Emotional Confession on Ex-HC’s Impact appeared first on EssentiallySports.
