How long has Jimmy Johnson been on Fox? Career explored as AI Super Bowl tribute sparks retirement concerns

Recently, during the pregame coverage of Super Bowl 59 on February 9, 2025, Jimmy Johnson was honored with a tribute video highlighting his illustrious career. The segment featured AI-generated versions of Johnson as both a player and coach, reflecting on his journey from the University of Arkansas to his successful coaching tenures with the Miami Hurricanes and the Dallas Cowboys. The video montage concluded with Jimmy Johnson expressing profound gratitude towards his family and colleagues, remarking that he had 'never been happier' in his life.

After stepping down as the Cowboys' head coach following the 1993 season, Jimmy Johnson joined FOX Sports in April 1994 as an analyst for the newly launched FOX NFL Sunday pregame show, where he remained for its first two seasons. He returned to the analyst role in 2002 after a four-year tenure as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, leading them to three playoff appearances.

FOX NFL Sunday was honored with induction into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcasting Hall of Fame in April 2019. Over the past three decades, Jimmy Johnson has become a staple of Fox, contributing his extensive football knowledge and experience.

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Reactions to Jimmy Johnson's AI ad

Fox's AI-generated tribute to Jimmy Johnson with an AI-generated retrospective of his coaching journey may have left him teary-eyed, but got mixed reactions from netizens. The segment traced his rise from an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech in 1965 to his championship-winning leadership with the Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys, culminating in his role as a longtime Fox analyst.

The AI recreation depicted Johnson at various stages of his career, with digital renderings of his younger self narrating his story—though the imperfect lip-syncing left some viewers unsettled. Jake Thompson, an X user wrote:

"Whoever decided that AI was 1. Needed and 2. Looked good needs to be fired immediately. Terrible."

Another person who goes by the username @stembo said:

"Way to cheap out on paying real artists to animate something special"

Other users seemed confused about the AI ad. One user @sean_rohacik wrote:

"I thought this was a retirement segment but loved his answer to it. One day at a time."

While some users like @boneca63 expressed:

"idc about AI quality. it was a well done story. i was a kid when jj was dallas coach but i knew he was something. i was later confused when i heard jimmy johnson was now a race car driver. wait, what? :)"

Despite the mixed reactions, Fox’s tribute to Jimmy Johnson undoubtedly sparked conversation, highlighting both his legendary career and the growing debate over AI’s role in storytelling. While some viewers criticized the execution, others appreciated the sentiment behind honoring Jimmy Johnson’s contributions to football. As speculation about his potential retirement continues, Johnson’s response—'One day at a time'—leaves the door open for what’s next in his storied career.