“I have an absolute ball with my friends on the set. The best friends I’ve ever had, there with Fox…But I’ve made an extremely difficult decision… I’ve decided to retire from Fox.” And just like that, Fox would now have to say goodbye to one of its oldest faces, the Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson. That was quite a ride with Coach analyzing football games for more than two decades. But now, the pre-game shows and Sunday Night Football are both not going to be the same. Well, Coach Jimmy had a spectacular broadcasting run, and now he deserves this break.
So, as the 81-year-old prepares to leave Fox, one of his younger colleagues shared her favorite memory with him. Everyone shared snippets of their favorite memories with the former Dolphins coach. Erin Andrews also chimed in, sharing her favorite part of the journey with Johnson. In an Instagram post, Andrews shared a sweet note for Jimmy, “My favorite part about working with @jimmyjohnson4616 will always be my check-ins with @nflonfox during breaks. Coach is always the first one to say how much he liked my outfit, ask me about the crowd, or about the weather at the stadium.” She’s definitely going to miss him on the sets.
The 46-year-old also recalled Jimmy’s ‘speeches‘ at dinners and shared how “his humor, laugh, and smile” made him a joy to be around. The first picture Erin shared also featured Jimmy’s longtime friend and the center of the Cowboys universe, Jerry Jones. Jimmy coached the Cowboys for five seasons, leading the team to two Super Bowl wins in 1992 and 1993. That was the last time they got their hands on the Lombardi Trophy.
Erin has shared the reporting desk with Jimmy on several occasions over the past thirteen years. Her future with the channel is also talk of the town. The 46-year-old’s contract with Fox ended after the Super Bowl. The same is the case for her longtime friend and colleague, Charissa Thompson. Fox has not renewed their contracts as of now, so it’s uncertain whether the network will bring the duo back or not.
Speaking of Charissa, she too had a message for Fox’s favorite coach on his retirement.
The end of the Jimmy Johnson and Fox saga
Jimmy first stepped into the Fox studio in 1994 for a brief stint. After two years, he returned to the NFL as the head coach of the Dolphins. Jimmy and Fox reunited again in 2002, this time for a long 23-year run. “The most fun I’ve ever had in my career, that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships -was at Fox Sports,” Jimmy shared on ‘The Herd with Colin Cowherd.‘
On the show, while talking to Colin, he also shared that he had been thinking of retiring “for the last four or five years.” Well, a 23-year-long broadcasting career and a coaching career before that. Well, that’s quite a run. Now, as Johnson is ready to say goodbye to his analyst desk, his Fox crew has sent him their wishes and love.
The former legendary Giants QB, Michael Strahan, shared a farewell post for the Hall of Fame coach. Strahan wrote, “Congratulations on your retirement @jimmyjohnson4616! It has been 17 seasons of fun and laughs sitting next to you. You’re truly one of a kind, and thanks for being you and gifting me with one of the best friendships anyone could ever ask for. Hope you enjoy fishing and drinking beers on the boat. You deserve it. Love you, Coach!” sharing a picture of himself with Jimmy.
Charissa Thompson also shared a series of pictures via IG stories. The 42-year-old shared a dance video of her and Jimmy vibing as they showed off their moves on the sets of Sunday Night Football. “Sundays won’t be the same without you. We love you so much. You are a vibe, coach,” she captioned the video.
Former Pats TE Rob Gronkowski took to IG to share his parting note. “Congrats @jimmyjohnson4616 on your amazing run with Fox Sports. Your smile every morning lit up the room. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me on the days we worked together. You’re a legend in the coaching world and broadcasting world!” wrote Rob, bidding adieu to the legendary coach.
And this year marks the end of the Jimmy Johnson-Fox era. Hopefully, he will have an amazing retirement run.
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