There’s no Cowboys advisory board but Jimmy Johnson having Jerry Jones’ ear is good thing
For the record, there is no official or unofficial Dallas Cowboys advisory board that owner Jerry Jones listens to before making decisions.
Jones has long sought out the opinions of others.
But most decisions are made in concert with coach Mike McCarthy, vice president Stephen Jones and personnel director Will McClay.
So the news former coach Jimmy Johnson is now part of a Cowboys advisory board should be taken with a grain of salt or at least with the jovial spirit in which it was announced by a chuckling Johnson on a Miami radio show that has since gone viral.
“Since the Ring of Honor, I am on his [Jerry Jones]’ advisory board now,” Johnson said.
“We were talking on the phone about an hour after his Green Bay loss, and he was talking about what all he needed to do because he had big decisions on Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn and Dak Prescott,” Johnson added. “Everything is hunky dory now. I am back in the fold with the Cowboys.”
Johnson being back in the fold and having Jones’ ear on Cowboys’ matters is a good thing for a franchise that is seemingly at a crossroads following the devastating playoff loss to the Packers, extending the gap since its last Super Bowl title in 1995 to 28 seasons.
It’s unknown how much sway Johnson had in Jones’ deciding to continue on with McCarthy for one final make-or-break season in 2024 in the last year of his contract after a third straight 12-5 season ended with an early playoff exit, none more shocking, galling and embarrassing than the 48-32 loss to the Packers at home.
Or where Johnson sides on the coming decision of whether to sign Prescott to a long-term deal or let him play out the final year of his contract and possibly risk losing him to free agency in 2025.
What can’t be in dispute is the Cowboys under Jones haven’t been right since Johnson parted ways with the franchise after leading them to two straight Super Bowl titles in 1992 and ‘93 and laying the foundation for a third in 1995 because the two former college teammates at Arkansas could no longer player nice together.
Johnson departed before the 1994 season and a cold war between the two lasted for roughly 30 seasons.
Although the Cowboys won a final title in 1995, the foundation he laid began to rot not long after his departure.
And following the retirement of the stars that made them champions, the Cowboys have never been the same.
Sure they have had some winning seasons but they only four playoff since 1997 to show for it.
There have been no trips to the NFC title game or Super Bowl.
So when Jones and Johnson finally mended fences with his induction into the team’s Ring of Honor during the 2023 seasons, there were many who thought that this breakthrough may end the mythical Johnson curse.
That the Cowboys then gave Jones the most painful playoff loss of his career by falling behind 27-0 and never truly competing against the Packers was another example that the problems holding the team back were bigger than a curse.
Sorcery didn’t tear it down and sorcery won’t fix it.
What Johnson built from 1989 to leading the Cowboys to a Super Bowl title in five years was done with smoke and mirrors and black magic.
It was hard work, discipline and a unyielding desire to win founded on Jones listening Johnson.
Now that Johnson has Jones’ ear again, maybe the Cowboys can finally get their MoJo back in Year 5 under McCarthy.
It not, there is better sounding board on how to build it from ground up.
He’s done it before.
This story was originally published February 20, 2024 at 1:47 PM.
