Jimmy Johnson began his coaching career at Louisiana Tech in 1965 and Picayune Memorial High School in Picayune, MS in 1966. In 1967 Jimmy was an assistant coach Wichita State, then in 1968 and 1969 he served has under Johnny Majors at Iowa State, in Aimes. In 1970 Jimmy moved to another Big 8 school to become a defensive line coach at the University of Oklahoma, working along side of future rival Barry Switzer.

Jimmy Johnson's tenure at Oklahoma State is noteworthy for his successful rebuilding of one of college football's perennial losers and for his inability to beat Barry Switzer's University of Oklahoma. In 1983 contest when Oklahoma State was leading the game 20-3 with 3 mins left in the game, Oklahoma State ending up losing the game. Jimmy Johnson did not even shake Barry Switzer's hand.

In 1984, Jimmy Johnson was hired by University of Miami to replace former coach Howard Schnellenberger who had won Miami's first National Championship in 1983, and departed for the recent formed United States Football League, Jimmy went 8-5 in his first season, and one of his biggest came from Maryland, when Miami was leading at halftime 31-0, ended up losing the game. Then one of his others losses came from Boston College when Doug Flutie threw a hail-mary pass to beat University of Miami 47-45 at the end of the game. Jimmy Johnson compiled a record 52-9, and winning one National Championship in 1987, played for the second National Championship to lose against #2 Penn State.
Jimmy Johnson created a controversy by allowing the University of Miami to retire Vinny Testaverde's Jersey number #14, but refusing to retire Bernie Kosar Jersey number #20, Kosar played one season under Jimmy Johnson, and led the Hurricanes to the National Championship Title.(that was not under Jimmy Johnson). Jimmy Johnson reason for this to happen was because that Bernie did not play for Jimmy throughout his college career.

In 1989, Jerry Jones, the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and a long-time friend and former teammate at University of Arkansas of Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy Johnson became the second head coach of the Dallas Cowboys history after the termination of Tom Landry. Jimmy Johnson went 1-15 in his first year. Jimmy went on to winning back to back championships. Winning Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII both beating the Buffalo Bills twice. After the 1993 season, Jimmy walked away from the Dallas Cowboys due to his inability to work with Jerry Jones. Jerry would start making personnel decisions, when in Jimmy's contract stated that Jimmy would have total control in personnel moves.
The Dallas Cowboys would win their 3rd Super Bowl in the '90s Beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. Many people gave Jimmy Johnson the credit for it, instead of Barry Switzer.

Jimmy after being a TV analyst with Fox's Sports for 2 years. Jimmy went to Miami Dolphins after Don Shula retired. Jimmy was not successful with the Dolphins. In a Division Playoff game the Dolphins lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 62-7, which proved to be the last game for both Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy blamed Dan for losing that game. Dan felt that he could not play the game like he used to.

Now Jimmy is analyst for Fox's Sports with the NFL pre-game show. He has been doing since he resigned from Miami Dolphins.

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