Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones informed FOX Sports analyst and former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson that he’ll be inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor later this year.
The timing of the induction — Saturday, December 30th — was questioned by many in the Dallas media. However, during an interview with 105.3 The Fan’s Shan & RJ Tuesday, Jones revealed his thought process.
“I didn’t want to do it last week because we were recognizing our Medal of Honor (recipients) and basically representing our servicepeople, and I didn’t want to do anything — particularly since we’re so committed and excited about what we’re doing with the Medal of Honor recipients,” Jones told the Dallas sports radio station. “So I didn’t want anything to get confused there, that’s the reason we made that announcement over in Charlotte, and that’s the reason we’re going to do this thing when (Troy) Aikman and (Joe) Buck are here.”
The Cowboys will take on the Detroit Lions in the game Johnson will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.
The inclusion of Aikman is a natural decision for Jones. Johnson coached the Hall of Fame quarterback to two Super Bowl victories. Aikman famously cried on air when Johnson was informed he was being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was still working at FOX.
Johnson has long been thought of as a natural for the distinction from the Cowboys. However, a purported strain in the relationship between Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones prevented the Hall of Fame coach from receiving the honor. Johnson has previously questioned if his analysis centered upon the franchise and Jones himself had led to him being excluded from the team’s highest honor.
“Anytime I say anything about the Cowboys, positive or negative, that’s gonna be a headline in Dallas,” Johnson said on The Dan Patrick Show last year. “I’m not always right obviously, no one’s always right. But they’re gonna ask my opinion, and I’m gonna give it.”
