Jimmy Johnson has been an analyst for ‘Fox NFL Sunday’ since the program debuted in 1994.
After 31 years, the 81-year-old is calling it quits, as he announced on ‘The Herd with Colin Cowherd’ Monday.
‘I’ve made an extremely difficult decision,’ Johnson said. ‘I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I’ve decided to retire from Fox.’
Speculation about Johnson’s retirement began to run rampant during the network’s coverage of Super Bowl 59. Fox ran a tribute to the long-time analyst as part of its pregame show and ‘Fox NFL Sunday’ host Curt Menefee asked Johnson if the Super Bowl would be his last time on-air in his role.
‘One day at a time, Curt,’ Johnson replied.
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But now, Johnson is ready to ride off into the sunset, even despite how much he has enjoyed his role with the network.
‘Probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my career – and that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships – was at Fox Sports,’ Johnson said. ‘I have an absolute ball with my friends on the set. The best friends I’ve ever had, there with Fox.’
That was part of what made Johnson’s decision to step away so difficult.
‘I’m gonna miss it. I’m gonna miss all the guys. I’ll see ’em occasionally,’ Johnson told Cowherd. ‘But it has been a great run starting back 31 years ago.’
Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks echoed those sentiments and noted in a statement that Johnson would be ‘sincerely missed’ after his retirement.
‘Jimmy served as an inspiration to generations of football fans with his legendary swagger, one-of-a-kind insight and signature humor,’ Shanks wrote. ‘From his motivating pep talks to his unmatched energy over the years, he was our coach who always pushed us to be better. We’re incredibly grateful for his contributions in making Fox NFL Sunday the top pregame show on TV, where we shared countless memorable moments, highlighted by surprising him live on-air with the news he was being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame – an occasion we will never forget.
‘Coach will be sincerely missed and we wish him the best as he sets sail into retirement, like only Jimmy Johnson can.’