There was much speculation the reconciliation would happen- finally- during Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones chose not to prolong the anticipation, popping the question to former college teammate, former Razorbacks roommate, and former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson during Thursday night’s pregame broadcast.
Johnson will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. And at some unspecified point after that, he will have his name added to the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Jones made it official on live TV.
“Tex Schramm, who started that Ring of Honor,” Jones began, “said, ‘Jerry, keep it kind of limited with people. But make sure it wasn’t just about the plays they made. Make sure they contributed to the story of the franchise.’”
Johnson, of course, took the Cowboys from the worst team in the NFL to Super Bowl champs in just four seasons. The dynasty he created with Jones won back-to-back world titles before ego battles and infighting over who deserved more credit resulted in an acrimonious divorce between the two just days after their second Lombardi Trophy win.
The roster Johnson assembled went on to come within one game of a three-peat attempt under coach Barry Switzer and then an unprecedented third championship in a four-year span.
The two men famously and publicly bickered in the years since, with many Cowboys legends and fans alike clamoring for Jones to put Johnson in the franchise’s exclusive Ring of Honor at AT&T Stadium, an accolade that’s been bestowed on just 22 men to date.
Jones milked the moment just slightly while seated next to Johnson on the FOX desk and with their very first draft pick, Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl winner Troy Aikman looking on.
“So are we making an announcement here?” host Curt Menefee asked after a bit of buildup from the billionaire owner.
“Well, we can,” Jones teased. “But we’ll be in the Ring of Honor.”
Johnson didn’t pass up the opportunity to play up the bad blood while sliding in one more of his trademark one-liners.
“While I’m alive?” the 78-year-old asked with mock incredulity.
Not to be outdone, Jones came back with a zinger of his own.
“Well, are you going to be able to make it through this Hall of Fame ceremony?”
Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson cutting up once again like it was the old days was a welcome salve to a generation of Cowboys fans who’ve known mostly sadness since the two parted ways.
But it was Aikman who- just as he did so often during his playing days- bridged the gap between the two and put a perfect bow on the moment.
“It wouldn’t have happened- our successes wouldn’t have happened- and every player that was on those teams knows that: Michael [Irvin], Emmitt [Smith], and everyone else. It took both of these guys. Jimmy couldn’t have been the coach that he was had it not been for Jerry and his ownership, and Jerry wouldn’t have been the owner that he was had it not been for Jimmy as the head coach. And we were the beneficiaries of that. And I’m just glad to see these two together. It’s what we’ve all been hoping for.”
It’s what millions of Cowboys fans have been hoping for.
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