31 Jimmy Johnson Quotes

Joan Agie
Sep 29, 2023 By Joan Agie
Originally Published on Oct 11, 2022
At Kidadl you can read the most famous Jimmy Johnson quotes that will inspire all football fans.
?
Age: 3-18
Read time: 5.8 Min

Jimmy Johnson was born in Port Arthur, Texas, on July 16, 1943.

He is a retired football manager who served the Miami Hurricanes (1984 -1988) and the Dallas Cowboys (1989 - 1993) as head coach. Johnson is best known as the first head coach to win both a Super Bowl and a college football national championship.

As a player, Johnson played for the Arkansas Razorbacks and won two SWC championships in 1961 and 1964, and the 1964 National Championship. In 1964, he also became an All-SWC.

Famous Jimmy Johnson Quotes

Jimmy Johnson is one of the most successful football coaches of all time. Listed below are some of his most famous quotes that will make your day.

“I don’t want to lose the feeling I have for players, but the pro system almost causes you to be cold and insensitive when you have to release players yearly.” - August 20, 2020, www.exclusivemotivation.com.

"And the main thing was that I wanted to live in south Florida. That's why I left the Cowboys; to live in south Florida."

“People don't realize, we led the league in defense back in 1992. We had great special teams. You can't really compare teams just because of two or three players.” - July 1, 2018, www.dallasnews.com.

"You can’t be a sloppy football team and be successful in the NFL."

“Just understand one thing. The only way I could have gotten to this point in my life is to have lived it the way I did. And that, like everything, comes with a price.” - Sep 20, 1992,www.chicagotribune.com, Barry Horn and Dallas.

"An objective truth and individual reason are feared above all."

“I was the personnel director there with the Cowboys. My pride was collecting the talent and putting together the team that won the Super Bowls.” - July 1, 2018, www.dallasnews.com.

"You’ve got to make sure that everybody’s putting in the work and you’ve got to have the discipline to go out there and get the job done."

“When I went to the Dolphins, we retained most of their coaching staff, and of course, we had a few veteran players. So, I just tried to add a few pieces here and there.” - August 20, 2020, www.exclusivemotivation.com.

"Just following ‘Survivor’ over the years, sometimes if an individual is not a threat and he doesn’t rub anybody the wrong way and he can get into an alliance, he can hang out there for a while."

"A head coach has to be able to oversee all facets of the team and of the game."

"Two to three years down the road, other companies not on a model like Dell's will be in trouble."

Jimmy Johnson Quotes For Sports Enthusiasts

(Read the most famous quotes ever stated by the renowned American football coach Jimmy Johnson about motivation.)

Jimmy Johnson is a well-known name to everyone as a sportsperson. Hence, this section contains the best and most motivational Jimmy Johnson quotes for all sports enthusiasts.

"Football rewards the guys that are in great condition."

"The biggest thing is I wouldn’t move away from here. I had my run. I had my day in the sunshine. I enjoyed it. I’m proud of what I was able to do every place I ever coached. I travel so much with Fox NFL Sunday that I’m happiest at home. It’s the lifestyle.  There’s no stress."

“I could start a fire from scratch.” - www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com, Hasan Al-Jarrah.

"We were very successful in high school. In college we were undefeated national champions, so I was around success all the time, and the more you’re around it and you see all the good things that happen, you want more of it."

"I’m really impressed with Kolb there in Philadelphia. He’s a very talented quarterback."

“When I was there all the players looked to me and they understood that I was going to either cut them or keep or fine them... they had to answer to me,” - November 15, 2005, www.foxsports.com.

“Football is such a team sport, so no one individual does it. No one coach or no one assistant coach or no one player, it's a great team sport, so I don't get carried away with a bunch of accolades.” - www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com, Hasan Al-Jarrah

"I’ve seen every second of ‘Survivor’ since it started."

Motivating Jimmy Johnson Quotes

The famous football coach, Jimmy Johnson, has often been seen giving motivational speeches. Here are some of Johnson's best quotes that will definitely motivate you.

“A lot of coaches could ration out their time. They could delegate. They would make time for their family. But when I was coaching I would almost laugh at those guys. I knew we were working the extra hours to get an edge on them.” - December 24, 2015, www.sun-sentinel.com, Dave Hyde.

"Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?"

“The head coach’s time should be spent ensuring every single person in the organization – from the starting quarterback to the water boy – is motivated to do their very best, and that such motivation is achieved by the coach personally and continually acknowledging every individual for their contribution to the overall cause. Only if each person in the organization is functioning at maximum capacity, can success be achieved.” - November 21, 2012, www.healthsystemcio.com, Anthony Guerra.

"Give people enough guidance to make the decisions you want them to make. Don’t tell them what to do, but encourage them to do what is best."

"I was driven to win it all because that’s what I was accustomed to."

Inspiring Jimmy Johnson Quotes

Finally, this section features some inspiring Jimmy Johnson quotes that will raise your spirits.

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” - July 20, 2020, www.antoinewilliamsandassoc.com, Antoine T. Williams.

“In some ways ‘Survivor’ might have saved my life.” - July 1, 2018, www.dallasnews.com.

"Military leaders aren’t made. They are born. To be a good leader, you have to have something in your character to cause people to follow you."

“Really, the No. 1 motivator is fear, you know, fear of maybe letting down your teammates, of being chastised or maybe losing your job. Where's the fear in Dallas? There's no fear in Dallas. It's a country club where everybody's buddies.” - November 8, 2012, www.bleacherreport.com.

"Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a person as if he were where he could be and should be, and he will become what he could be and should be."

"You can only win if you are in great shape, and if you’re not sucking for wind at end of the game.  And when you look across the way and that guy is hanging down, he is a coward."

“The only thing worse than a coach or CEO who doesn’t care about his people is one who pretends to care. People can spot a phony every time.” - 'Turning The Thing Around: My Life In Football', Ed Hinton and Jimmy Johnson, 1994.

We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

Sources

https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/jimmy-johnson-quotes

https://quote.org/quote/just-following-survivor-over-the-years-sometimes-687512

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jimmy-johnson-cowboys-problem-is-players-dont-have-to-answer-to-jason-garrett

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348333/characters/nm0462712

https://www.quotetab.com/quotes/by-jimmy-johnson

https://www.exclusivemotivation.com/inspirational-jimmy-johnson-quotes/

https://activategroupinc.com/blog/quotes-from-successful-leaders/

https://www.inspiringquotes.us/author/4171-jimmy-johnson

https://www.antoinewilliamsandassoc.com/blog/the-difference-between-ordinary-and-extraordinary-is-that-little-extra

https://millyuns.com/quotes-jimmy/

https://www.awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/35-inspirational-mae-west-quotes-on-success/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Johnson_(American_football_coach)

https://allauthor.com/quotes/158355/

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2018/07/01/jimmy-johnson-more-great-quotes-candid-comments-feuding-with-jerry-trying-times-and-survivor/

https://quotestats.com/topic/jimmy-johnson-quotes/

https://www.azquotes.com/author/7504-Jimmy_Johnson

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fl-hyde-jimmy-johnson-column-1225-20151224-column.html

See All

Written by Joan Agie

Bachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

Joan Agie picture

Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy

With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.

Read full bio >