Who isn’t aware of Jimmy Johnson’s résumé? He’s one of the best football coaches to don the headset, winning two Super Bowl titles with the Dallas Cowboys. However, his success didn’t come solely from coaching but also his talent for recruiting players, helping him build a powerful roster.
Just look at the Cowboys’ talented roster in the early ’90s during his tenure. As his legacy continues to inspire, NFL analyst Colin Cowherd has drawn parallels between Johnson’s approach and another NFL coach who is emulating his methods today.
Colin Cowherd Compares Jim Harbaugh to Jimmy Johnson’s Roster-Building Mastery
The Hall of Fame head coach recently appeared on The Herd and reflected on what made him a master at building successful rosters. Johnson discussed his dedication to identifying and managing talent, whether through the draft or free agency.
He shared, “Oh, I spent my time at personnel, you know, even during the season, you know, looking at free agents, you know, even watching college football. I love watching college football, and so, you know, I was always on top of the game as far as college football.
“And on top of that, when I first went into the league, I’d been in a lot of those top players’ homes, and I knew their families. And so, it gave me an advantage in drafting players.”
Cowherd then drew a connection for his audience, interrupting Johnson to explain, “That’s kind of what Jim Harbaugh has for the next few years.”
Although Jim Harbaugh hasn’t won a Super Bowl yet, he made a huge impact last year, leading the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship. Now coaching the Los Angeles Chargers, Harbaugh has turned a team that finished 5-12 last season into a possible contender.
Currently sitting at 7-4 just behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, the Chargers have renewed playoff hopes under Harbaugh’s leadership. Could Harbaugh lead the Chargers to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history?
From Drafting Legends to Super Bowl Wins
Johnson is famous for bringing in talents like QB Troy Aikman (the first overall pick in 1989), RB Emmitt Smith (the 17th overall pick in 1990), and CB Larry Brown (the 12th overall pick in 1991). These iconic players played a role in the Cowboys winning three Super Bowls in the ’90s era, with two of them under Johnson’s leadership from 1989 to 1993.
Apart from shaping football legends, Johnson had a remarkable coaching career in both college and the NFL.
In college, he coached Oklahoma State (1979–1983) and Miami (1984–1988), finishing with an impressive 81–34–3 record. His NFL journey started on a rough note with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, where the team finished 1–15.
But in just two years, he turned the franchise around, leading them to three playoff appearances and two Super Bowl titles over the next five seasons with a 44–36 record.
Johnson also spent four seasons coaching the Miami Dolphins (1996–1999), earning three playoff appearances before retiring from coaching.