Miami Dolphins Hire Jimmy Johnson

On Jan. 10, 1996, the Miami Dolphins announced Jimmy Johnson as their new head coach. 

Johnson replaced legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula, who’s tenure lasted 26 years with the Miami organization.

Before accepting the job with the Dolphins, Johnson led the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1992 and 1993.  Despite all of his accomplishments with the Cowboys, Johnson and team owner Jerry Jones did not see eye to eye on many things, which ultimately led to coach Johnson’s departure. 

Jimmy Johnson also enjoyed success at the collegiate level, coaching the Miami Hurricanes to the 1987 NCAA Division I National Championship. 

At the start of his head coaching days in college he led Oklahoma State to a 29-26-2 record over five seasons and two bowl appearances. Most notably the 24-14 win over Baylor in the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1983.

He left Oklahoma State after rebuilding the program for the Hurricanes of the University of Miami.

In just a few short years Johnson led the Hurricanes to an NCAA National Championship victory in 1987 over Oklahoma.

Johnson left Miami in 1989 for the NFL and the Cowboys, but left Miami with an amazing record of 52-9, and 44-4 record over his final four seasons.

His entire NCAA record as a head coach was 81-34-3.

However, Johnson would not share similar success with the Dolphins, as he went 36-28 in the regular season and just 2-3 in the playoffs during his four-year stay in Miami.

Jimmy Johnson is currently working in television as an analyst for FOX NFL Sunday’s pregame show.  Although there are quite a few coaching opportunities available in the NFL this off-season, do not expect the 69-year-old Johnson to be filling any of those spots.

Immaculate Reception

On Dec. 13, 1972, one of the most exciting plays in NFL history happened between the Raiders and Steelers, the Immaculate Reception.

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Oakland Raiders in an AFC divisional playoff game Dec. 23, 1972. The Steelers had won nine of their last 10 games. Oakland came in with a six-game winning streak.

With 22 seconds left in the game, the Steelers had a fourth-and-10 on their own 40-yard line down 7-6. Terry Bradshaw scrambled out of the pocket, was nearly sacked twice before letting a 30-yard pass fly to running back John Fuqua. The ball deflected off of defender Jack Tatum and Fuqua and was knocked towards the line of scrimmage about 15 yards. There, Franco Harris scooped up the ball and ran 40-yards to the end zone untouched.

The remarkable comeback was complete as the Steelers beat the Raiders 13-7.

Neither team played well and the Steelers actually had a 6-0 lead before Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler scampered for 30-yards in the fourth quarter for the only score for the Raiders. The seven-point total was the lowest of the season for Oakland.

Pittsburgh lost the AFC Championship to the Miami Dolphins a week later. The Dolphins went on to have the only undefeated season in modern football. Had the Raiders played Miami, the outcome might have been different for the Dolphins.

The New England Patriots would try to recreate the undefeated season with a longer, 16-game schedule in 2007. However, the Patriots would eventually lose to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Since 2007 no team has come close to have an undefeated season, as no team has gone 16-0 into the playoffs.