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Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs
From FOX NFL Sunday analyst and legendary Hall of Fame head football coach Jimmy Johnson—the first to win both a college football championship and a Super Bowl—the long-awaited, intimate, no-regrets memoir recounting his extraordinary life and insightful lessons on winning, at every level.
Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson’s house isn’t on the way to anything. Yet, his private sanctuary on the Florida Keys’ Islamorada islands is a popular destination to which college and professional coaches, general managers, and team owners regularly trek to seek advice—how to build a positive team culture, draft elite players, balance work and family life, and lead a team to win. Why? Because Jimmy Johnson has done it all—rising through the college coaching ranks to lead the University of Miami Hurricanes to a national championship, winning two consecutive Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, and handling public triumphs while dealing with private adversity. Now, in Swagger, written with veteran sports journalist Dave Hyde, Johnson shares a candid account of his life experiences that have turned him into a legend in the coaching world.
From his early days on the college football fields at Louisiana Tech to his arrival as the Cowboys’ coach in 1989, Swagger traces the history of Johnson’s career, and his lifelong mission to win. His larger-than-life personality and hard-driving, tough-talking coaching style led him to become one of only six coaches in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Swagger shows the behind-the-scenes details of his professional conflict with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his personal revelations following his mother’s death and his son’s struggle with addiction. It reveals Johnson’s formula for winning, including his criteria for identifying talent, his core beliefs, how he replaced legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Don Shula, coached stars from a young Troy Aikman to an aging Dan Marino, and established the ever-elusive sense of “culture” that every team leader hopes to achieve. More than a highlight reel, Swagger reveals the hard-won lessons Jimmy Johnson has learned both as a man and as a coach through a lifetime dedicated to excellence.
Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson’s house isn’t on the way to anything. Yet, his private sanctuary on the Florida Keys’ Islamorada islands is a popular destination to which college and professional coaches, general managers, and team owners regularly trek to seek advice—how to build a positive team culture, draft elite players, balance work and family life, and lead a team to win. Why? Because Jimmy Johnson has done it all—rising through the college coaching ranks to lead the University of Miami Hurricanes to a national championship, winning two consecutive Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, and handling public triumphs while dealing with private adversity. Now, in Swagger, written with veteran sports journalist Dave Hyde, Johnson shares a candid account of his life experiences that have turned him into a legend in the coaching world.
From his early days on the college football fields at Louisiana Tech to his arrival as the Cowboys’ coach in 1989, Swagger traces the history of Johnson’s career, and his lifelong mission to win. His larger-than-life personality and hard-driving, tough-talking coaching style led him to become one of only six coaches in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Swagger shows the behind-the-scenes details of his professional conflict with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his personal revelations following his mother’s death and his son’s struggle with addiction. It reveals Johnson’s formula for winning, including his criteria for identifying talent, his core beliefs, how he replaced legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Don Shula, coached stars from a young Troy Aikman to an aging Dan Marino, and established the ever-elusive sense of “culture” that every team leader hopes to achieve. More than a highlight reel, Swagger reveals the hard-won lessons Jimmy Johnson has learned both as a man and as a coach through a lifetime dedicated to excellence.
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First published November 15, 2022
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About the author
Jimmy Johnson
3 booksFOX NFL commentator. Former football head coaching for University of Miami Hurricanes, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 10, 2022
A good read if you are interested in the Cowboys. A lot of it has already been in the news for years. Johnson’s self-serving personality certainly came out ( or as he calls it Swagger). Despite all this, I can’t help but like him and I did enjoy his book. One certainly can’t deny his success.
September 30, 2025
I enjoyed and learned a few things about Jimmy I didn't know.
January 28, 2023
This was a surprisingly candid and human book, with less bluster than the title would suggest. I appreciated Johnson’s comments about the racial undertones of the narratives surrounding his Miami Hurricanes teams of the 80s. I also got a new respect for the person behind the coaching legend. He will always be my favorite coach, and now, based on his evolution, I view him in a new light. The book challenges commonly held notions about the man held by Dallas Cowboys fans and others in football.
February 29, 2024
If you’re a sports fan, especially interested in the psychology of coaching, this book is for you. I love that Jimmy shared far more than his football experiences, but his life all throughout. Some hard life lessons were shared which are good reminders for all of us.
May 20, 2024
Interesting guy
March 24, 2024
Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs—A Memoir by Jimmy Johnson and Dave Hyde
“Swagger” perfectly describes the football persona of Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson. The well-known Fox NFL Sunday analyst provides readers with a memoir inside the life of a football coach, life lessons learned and taught. This football-loving 287-page book includes twenty-two chapters covering into the life of Jimmy Johnson.
Positives:
1. A well-written book. Clearly, this was Johnson’s story and Hyde’s pen. The teamwork resulted in an enjoyable memoir to read.
2. Excellent topic, a legendary football coach’s memoir.
3. The book flows very well. It goes from topic to topic smoothly and maintains your interest throughout. Football fans will eat this up but laypersons will enjoy as well.
4. Provides the three main qualities for hiring coaches. “I mentioned my three qualities for hiring coaches: intelligence, passion for the game, and a willingness to work beyond good reason at times.”
5. Reveals his personality as a coach. “I wanted them to play to their personalities.” “That fake punt surprise gets back to my blackjack philosophy: You don’t play with scared money.”
6. Reveals lowlights and highlights of his career. “That 1987 Fiesta Bowl loss to Penn State made me a more intense coach, a more detailed-oriented coach—a better coach in many regards. And a more obsessed one.”
7. Describes the philosophy of the Pygmalion Effect. “Establish high expectations. Never forecast failure. Don’t permit complaining. Those are some of the fundamental steps of Pygmalion-ing ’em.”
8. Reveals his skill for finding talent. Find out the five characteristics that broadened the chances of draft success.
9. Describes his complicated relationship with Jerry Jones. “My football success received far more acclaim than his business success. That didn’t sit well with him.”
10. The Herschel Walker trade dissected. “We used Minnesota’s draft picks over the next couple of years to stock our roster with: Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Fame running back; safety Darren Woodson, a Hall of Fame finalist who should be voted in soon; All-Pro cornerback Kevin Smith; Pro Bowl defensive tackle Russell Maryland; and cornerback Clayton Holmes, a starter on our Super Bowl teams.”
11. The creation of the Draft Value Chart. “The bigger the net, the bigger the chance to get good fish in with the bad. That’s my idea.”
12. Describes the coach-quarterback dynamic in Dallas that resulted in championships.
13. The challenges of success. “Success? It’s a tightrope walk for a coach who wants players to gain confidence from success without being spoiled by it.”
14. Describes his life without football. “I also signed a three-year deal with a no-escape clause that was announced that day. The conclusion was I was done coaching. Television was my new world.”
15. Back to coaching and rebuilding a team. “I was never afraid of admitting mistakes, of taking some accompanying criticism. The important part was not to compound the mistake by doubling down on it. You’re going to swing and miss in the draft. That’s the nature of it. Hopefully, you’re going to hit on some Zach Thomases and find some Larry Izzos, too.”
16. Provocative philosophy. “The enemy of great is good.”
17. The “retirement” life and describes his relationships with the Fox crew. “Terry and my lawyer, Nick Christin, are my best friends. No one is more genuine and generous than Terry.”
18. The importance of entering the Hall of Fame. “Looking back—I went and counted—I coached, recruited, or drafted thirteen players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
19. Describes the differences between college and NFL football. “College sports now becomes a game of who has the richest and most generous alumni. If you don’t have the alumni, you’re going to be a second-tier program.”
20. His NFL philosophy. “Success in the NFL is determined not by who makes the most great plays, but by who makes the fewest bad plays. I wanted the running back who gained 3 or 4 yards and never fumbled, as opposed to the one with breathtaking runs who often fumbled. I wanted the quarterback who dinked and dunked and didn’t take a sack or throw an interception as opposed to one with big throws and big mistakes.”
Negatives:
1. I wished there was more. I would have added supplementary materials that included interesting topics like his favorite all-time plays, top ten lists of favorite players, favorite teams.
2. As a football fan I wished it was a little more technical in terms of football.
3. As most memoirs go expect some ego (the book is titled swagger after all) but I do sense Johnson holding back a little, almost dare I say being politically correct.
In summary, what an enjoyable and fun read this was. If you are a football fan, you need to read this book. For the record, I am NOT a Dallas Cowboys fan but I must say I am now a Jimmy Johnson fan. There is something really charming about Johnson but as a coach he was a fearless competitor and very demanding. This book is a revealing book about what a successful football coach has to go through and the impact it has on life in general. Football fans will enjoy this. I recommend it.
Further recommendations: “Dynasty” by Jeff Benedict, “America’s Game” by Michael MacCambridge, “Go Long” by Jerry Rice, “The 85 Bears: We Were the Greatest” by Mike Ditka, “Playmakers” Mike Florio, “I feel Like Going On” by Ray Lewis, “Coming Back Stronger” by Drew Brees, “Qb: My Life Behind the Spiral” by Steve Young, and “Belichick and Brady” by Michael Holley.
“Swagger” perfectly describes the football persona of Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson. The well-known Fox NFL Sunday analyst provides readers with a memoir inside the life of a football coach, life lessons learned and taught. This football-loving 287-page book includes twenty-two chapters covering into the life of Jimmy Johnson.
Positives:
1. A well-written book. Clearly, this was Johnson’s story and Hyde’s pen. The teamwork resulted in an enjoyable memoir to read.
2. Excellent topic, a legendary football coach’s memoir.
3. The book flows very well. It goes from topic to topic smoothly and maintains your interest throughout. Football fans will eat this up but laypersons will enjoy as well.
4. Provides the three main qualities for hiring coaches. “I mentioned my three qualities for hiring coaches: intelligence, passion for the game, and a willingness to work beyond good reason at times.”
5. Reveals his personality as a coach. “I wanted them to play to their personalities.” “That fake punt surprise gets back to my blackjack philosophy: You don’t play with scared money.”
6. Reveals lowlights and highlights of his career. “That 1987 Fiesta Bowl loss to Penn State made me a more intense coach, a more detailed-oriented coach—a better coach in many regards. And a more obsessed one.”
7. Describes the philosophy of the Pygmalion Effect. “Establish high expectations. Never forecast failure. Don’t permit complaining. Those are some of the fundamental steps of Pygmalion-ing ’em.”
8. Reveals his skill for finding talent. Find out the five characteristics that broadened the chances of draft success.
9. Describes his complicated relationship with Jerry Jones. “My football success received far more acclaim than his business success. That didn’t sit well with him.”
10. The Herschel Walker trade dissected. “We used Minnesota’s draft picks over the next couple of years to stock our roster with: Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Fame running back; safety Darren Woodson, a Hall of Fame finalist who should be voted in soon; All-Pro cornerback Kevin Smith; Pro Bowl defensive tackle Russell Maryland; and cornerback Clayton Holmes, a starter on our Super Bowl teams.”
11. The creation of the Draft Value Chart. “The bigger the net, the bigger the chance to get good fish in with the bad. That’s my idea.”
12. Describes the coach-quarterback dynamic in Dallas that resulted in championships.
13. The challenges of success. “Success? It’s a tightrope walk for a coach who wants players to gain confidence from success without being spoiled by it.”
14. Describes his life without football. “I also signed a three-year deal with a no-escape clause that was announced that day. The conclusion was I was done coaching. Television was my new world.”
15. Back to coaching and rebuilding a team. “I was never afraid of admitting mistakes, of taking some accompanying criticism. The important part was not to compound the mistake by doubling down on it. You’re going to swing and miss in the draft. That’s the nature of it. Hopefully, you’re going to hit on some Zach Thomases and find some Larry Izzos, too.”
16. Provocative philosophy. “The enemy of great is good.”
17. The “retirement” life and describes his relationships with the Fox crew. “Terry and my lawyer, Nick Christin, are my best friends. No one is more genuine and generous than Terry.”
18. The importance of entering the Hall of Fame. “Looking back—I went and counted—I coached, recruited, or drafted thirteen players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
19. Describes the differences between college and NFL football. “College sports now becomes a game of who has the richest and most generous alumni. If you don’t have the alumni, you’re going to be a second-tier program.”
20. His NFL philosophy. “Success in the NFL is determined not by who makes the most great plays, but by who makes the fewest bad plays. I wanted the running back who gained 3 or 4 yards and never fumbled, as opposed to the one with breathtaking runs who often fumbled. I wanted the quarterback who dinked and dunked and didn’t take a sack or throw an interception as opposed to one with big throws and big mistakes.”
Negatives:
1. I wished there was more. I would have added supplementary materials that included interesting topics like his favorite all-time plays, top ten lists of favorite players, favorite teams.
2. As a football fan I wished it was a little more technical in terms of football.
3. As most memoirs go expect some ego (the book is titled swagger after all) but I do sense Johnson holding back a little, almost dare I say being politically correct.
In summary, what an enjoyable and fun read this was. If you are a football fan, you need to read this book. For the record, I am NOT a Dallas Cowboys fan but I must say I am now a Jimmy Johnson fan. There is something really charming about Johnson but as a coach he was a fearless competitor and very demanding. This book is a revealing book about what a successful football coach has to go through and the impact it has on life in general. Football fans will enjoy this. I recommend it.
Further recommendations: “Dynasty” by Jeff Benedict, “America’s Game” by Michael MacCambridge, “Go Long” by Jerry Rice, “The 85 Bears: We Were the Greatest” by Mike Ditka, “Playmakers” Mike Florio, “I feel Like Going On” by Ray Lewis, “Coming Back Stronger” by Drew Brees, “Qb: My Life Behind the Spiral” by Steve Young, and “Belichick and Brady” by Michael Holley.
December 2, 2022
For anyone who loves coaching, teaching and psychology then this is your book. The stories behind the history of the Cowboys in the 90's and the Hurricanes in the 80's are enough to make anyone laugh. I won't spoil this book for anyone but if you are a coach and you loved the aforementioned teams, make sure to do a double take on the Pygmaliem em chapter. Vintage Jimmy Johnson!
March 26, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: IF B.S. WERE MUSIC… JOHNSON WOULD BE A BRASS BAND!
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I am going to first state for the record… (And you will see why I feel that’s necessary… very soon… and throughout!)… That I’ve always liked Jimmy Johnson…
THAT BEING SAID… Johnson’s book… is nothing but constant… BRAGGING… BOASTING… SELF-AGGRANDIZING… POMPASS… PRETENTIOUS… SELF-IMPORTANT… OVER-FLOWING-PILE-OF-CONCEIT… and in the thousands of books I have read in my life… nothing matches the braggadocio that spews from Johnson’s mouth! This ego trip… would earn him enough frequent flyer miles to go to Mars and back a million times! He makes Muhammad Ali… look like a whimpering… introvert… with no self-worth.
Yet… I always liked Jimmy Johnson…
He unflinchingly tells you he was the greatest college coach and greatest professional coach. He tries to convince you he was the first coach to figure out it would be helpful for a coach to scout players in person… he waxes poetic… that he was the absolute king of psychologically investigating and manipulating players of all ages… at all levels… he bellows that he was the one to figure out the need for an analytical profile of how to trade up and down for draft choices… and of course… yes… of course… to always come out ahead in such deals. He believes he’s the first coach to extend player’s street moxie and competitiveness… from the streets to the field… of course he wears… like a medal of honor that one of his Miami college teams and the Dallas Cowboys were voted two of the most hated teams of all-time…
Ad Nauseam… he repetitively… like a broken record… tells you over and over and over… that he’s G-d’s gift to gambling. He bets more than anyone… wins more than anyone… and has more guts than anyone…
But… I “LIKED” Jimmy Johnson…
He brags that he’s considered a “WHALE” in gambling terms… every casino wants him in… and gives him anything he wants… he even mocks the fact that Shaquille O’Neal is envious… because Johnson can get into an exclusive casino… and “SHAQ” can’t because “SHAQ” doesn’t bet enough. WHALE… WHALE… WHALE… if you’re planning on reading this book… you may as well get used to that word now!
In the years since retiring from coaching… (And as these references pile up… I literally started getting nauseous… from the amount of real or imagined self-love… bloated… blusterous… praying to the blessing of being able to bow down to the G-d of all G-d’s he gets to see every time he looks in the mirror!)…
And here it comes… according to Jimmy… literally every single coach… from the highest of high… Belichick… on down… literally wear out the highways… roads… and bridges… that lead to his Florida home… for moments of wisdom… and questions of coaching life… that the honored guests… thrust upon the guru of all football guru’s. The author doesn’t state the following in the book… but the reader by this point could most likely surmise that Johnson has dreams… AND WAKING VISIONS… of the ghosts of Lombardi… Halas… Rockne… Lambeau… and other legendary departed coaches… all waiting at his gate for permission to come in… and receive gold-sparkling-diamond-encrusted… words of wisdom… from the exalted-in-his-own-mind… Jimmy Johnson…
And I liked Jimmy Johnson…
He also likes to brag about throwing down a $5,000.00 chip in front of an assistant coach at the blackjack table… and tells him if he wins that hand he and another assistant coach can keep it and split it… he brags about winning so much in the Bahamas that he and Aikman had the casino open a disco just for them… I’m really surprised he didn’t state that he taught Einstein how to add mixed numbers… I guess that will be in the sequel.
But I liked Jimmy Johnson…
Last but not least… what the holy hell… is with the picture on the cover of this book?!?! His agent and the publisher must have told him the picture was for the cover of ***MAD-DOGGING-MAGAZINE-MONTHLY***… instead of a biographical book. Ooooh…. Is that picture supposed to scare anyone that went to Florida State or University of Florida???
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am going to first state for the record… (And you will see why I feel that’s necessary… very soon… and throughout!)… That I’ve always liked Jimmy Johnson…
THAT BEING SAID… Johnson’s book… is nothing but constant… BRAGGING… BOASTING… SELF-AGGRANDIZING… POMPASS… PRETENTIOUS… SELF-IMPORTANT… OVER-FLOWING-PILE-OF-CONCEIT… and in the thousands of books I have read in my life… nothing matches the braggadocio that spews from Johnson’s mouth! This ego trip… would earn him enough frequent flyer miles to go to Mars and back a million times! He makes Muhammad Ali… look like a whimpering… introvert… with no self-worth.
Yet… I always liked Jimmy Johnson…
He unflinchingly tells you he was the greatest college coach and greatest professional coach. He tries to convince you he was the first coach to figure out it would be helpful for a coach to scout players in person… he waxes poetic… that he was the absolute king of psychologically investigating and manipulating players of all ages… at all levels… he bellows that he was the one to figure out the need for an analytical profile of how to trade up and down for draft choices… and of course… yes… of course… to always come out ahead in such deals. He believes he’s the first coach to extend player’s street moxie and competitiveness… from the streets to the field… of course he wears… like a medal of honor that one of his Miami college teams and the Dallas Cowboys were voted two of the most hated teams of all-time…
Ad Nauseam… he repetitively… like a broken record… tells you over and over and over… that he’s G-d’s gift to gambling. He bets more than anyone… wins more than anyone… and has more guts than anyone…
But… I “LIKED” Jimmy Johnson…
He brags that he’s considered a “WHALE” in gambling terms… every casino wants him in… and gives him anything he wants… he even mocks the fact that Shaquille O’Neal is envious… because Johnson can get into an exclusive casino… and “SHAQ” can’t because “SHAQ” doesn’t bet enough. WHALE… WHALE… WHALE… if you’re planning on reading this book… you may as well get used to that word now!
In the years since retiring from coaching… (And as these references pile up… I literally started getting nauseous… from the amount of real or imagined self-love… bloated… blusterous… praying to the blessing of being able to bow down to the G-d of all G-d’s he gets to see every time he looks in the mirror!)…
And here it comes… according to Jimmy… literally every single coach… from the highest of high… Belichick… on down… literally wear out the highways… roads… and bridges… that lead to his Florida home… for moments of wisdom… and questions of coaching life… that the honored guests… thrust upon the guru of all football guru’s. The author doesn’t state the following in the book… but the reader by this point could most likely surmise that Johnson has dreams… AND WAKING VISIONS… of the ghosts of Lombardi… Halas… Rockne… Lambeau… and other legendary departed coaches… all waiting at his gate for permission to come in… and receive gold-sparkling-diamond-encrusted… words of wisdom… from the exalted-in-his-own-mind… Jimmy Johnson…
And I liked Jimmy Johnson…
He also likes to brag about throwing down a $5,000.00 chip in front of an assistant coach at the blackjack table… and tells him if he wins that hand he and another assistant coach can keep it and split it… he brags about winning so much in the Bahamas that he and Aikman had the casino open a disco just for them… I’m really surprised he didn’t state that he taught Einstein how to add mixed numbers… I guess that will be in the sequel.
But I liked Jimmy Johnson…
Last but not least… what the holy hell… is with the picture on the cover of this book?!?! His agent and the publisher must have told him the picture was for the cover of ***MAD-DOGGING-MAGAZINE-MONTHLY***… instead of a biographical book. Ooooh…. Is that picture supposed to scare anyone that went to Florida State or University of Florida???
August 20, 2024
What an excellent book. I loved it all the way. I was a little too young to know about Jimmy and his Hurricanes but I knew all about him as he became the coach of my beloved Dallas Cowboys right at the age when sports really started to matter to me. Jimmy has always been one of a kind, but I feel like I've learned a lot more about his coaching days after they were already over. I knew he was a tough coach but I'm not sure I realized how tough until years later and certainly this book highlights that very much. He was the coach the first time I saw the Cowboys play in person - at Philadelphia in 1991. I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that game mentioned in this book. I remember it like it was yesterday. And of course, those Super Bowl seasons over the next two years. I love how he defends his Miami players who came to be known as brash trouble makers. There was more than a little bit of racism involved, it's very easy to see in hindsight. The first half of this book could actually be treated as a good book for business leaders in terms of how to motivate employees and how to be a leader. It was really impressive to read. Jimmy certainly had his own style. His own way. And as he says, it's not for everyone. I absolutely loved revisiting those Cowboys glory days through his eyes. I think we all, as fans, know the truth about Jerry Jones by now, but it was more than fascinating to get his take on their (still) complicated relationship. All that said, Jerry fucked up the Cowboys with his ego - and it continues to this day. As Jimmy details - Jerry was right that almost any coach could have coached his players to a Super Bowl (hello 1995) but he was deeply naive and deeply miscalculated about what it took to build a team and keep a team together and playing at a high level in a sustained way. 28 years later and counting, Jerry knows. It's also EMBARRASSING that it took so many years for Jimmy to get into the Cowboys Ring of Honor, and that he made it into the NFL Hall of Fame even before the Cowboys ROH. A joke. What a man child Jerry Jones is. He still hadn't been put in when this book was published. But at least it finally happened while Jimmy was still alive, a year later. I was so happy for him. There's other great stuff in here too. Some glimpses behind the curtain for Survivor and how that show operates (or at least, how is used to). A glimpse into what a self-described terrible family man he was while he was coaching. He was pretty intense, probably to a fault. Some glimpses into his Fox hosting duties as well - all interesting stuff. Although I've never understood why he was willing to fly cross country every week just for a studio show. However, I have ALWAYS thought Jimmy was the smartest man in the room for getting out of coaching before he wore out his welcome, living a life of sunshine and water and beers and fishing and boating in south Florida, and having a cush TV job to go with it. What a life. As we saw in this book, it wasn't perfect. There was divorce and tough moments personally and in his family life. But generally speaking - he really did it right. A major success as a Coach. A major success in how to enjoy life. And it sounds like a pretty generous person to go along with it. I still have hope that I might meet him one day, although I'm probably running out of time on that. Nonetheless, what a legend. What a terrific memoir. I loved it so much - I only wish it was longer. The greatest Cowboys coach in my lifetime, without a doubt. His creating of the Draft Chart alone left a permanent imprint on the NFL that remains to this day. Lastly, Jimmy talks frequently about QTL. Quality Time Left. That is always on my mind as well. It was nice to have a reminder about it. The older I get, the more precious QTL becomes to me as well. He gets life pretty well. The book is perfectly titled too. If there was one thing Jimmy Johnson had in spades .... it was Swagger.
March 29, 2023
I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, so I didn’t have any professional teams in town to root for. When I was a kid, my options were the Denver Broncos (no), the Raiders (also no), or the Cowboys. I discovered my love for football in the early 80s, while the Cardinals were still in St. Louis (where they actually have Cardinals…to my knowledge there aren’t any in Arizona). The Cowboys were also winning consistently in the early 80s, so that was the team I decided I wanted to root for. 40-some-odd years later, I’m still a fan.
As a Cowboys fan, we had a great decade in the 90s, and it was largely due to this man, Jimmy Johnson. I was pretty excited to get my hands on this book, even buying a physical copy instead of trying to get it from the library. I figured this one would be a nice one to have around permanently. I don’t even think I was finished with the first chapter when I came to the realization that JJ here isn’t a great guy. He’s not a terrible guy, but he definitely made some questionable personal choices (this is entirely my opinion). He makes it a point early on to let the reader know he doesn’t bother with important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries. I found that to be insanely selfish, explaining a lot about why his first marriage ended. I understand being the head coach of the most popular NFL franchise was a high-pressure situation, but ignoring important people in his life probably wasn’t the best way to handle it. After reading about when he married his second wife, I had a hard time finding anything likeable about the guy. I seemed like he had a better relationship with his players than his own children. He fully admits he never once watched them play football.
I almost decided to skip writing a review on this book, simply because I had spent so many years looking up to Jimmy Johnson, only to read this and discover he wasn’t that great a guy (at least to his family, he has a very long list of lifelong friends that seem to adore him). The book itself is pretty good, it’s well-written and well organized, I was just so disappointed to find out how cold and callous he was. He has a good relationship with his children today, he has remarried (though he doesn’t know when, because he doesn’t do “dates”), and he even has a pretty decent relationship with his ex-wife, so clearly he isn’t a complete asshat. I will continue to enjoy watching him on Sundays during the football season, his commentary is insightful and entertaining, but I won’t look at him through the same eyes I used to.
As a Cowboys fan, we had a great decade in the 90s, and it was largely due to this man, Jimmy Johnson. I was pretty excited to get my hands on this book, even buying a physical copy instead of trying to get it from the library. I figured this one would be a nice one to have around permanently. I don’t even think I was finished with the first chapter when I came to the realization that JJ here isn’t a great guy. He’s not a terrible guy, but he definitely made some questionable personal choices (this is entirely my opinion). He makes it a point early on to let the reader know he doesn’t bother with important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries. I found that to be insanely selfish, explaining a lot about why his first marriage ended. I understand being the head coach of the most popular NFL franchise was a high-pressure situation, but ignoring important people in his life probably wasn’t the best way to handle it. After reading about when he married his second wife, I had a hard time finding anything likeable about the guy. I seemed like he had a better relationship with his players than his own children. He fully admits he never once watched them play football.
I almost decided to skip writing a review on this book, simply because I had spent so many years looking up to Jimmy Johnson, only to read this and discover he wasn’t that great a guy (at least to his family, he has a very long list of lifelong friends that seem to adore him). The book itself is pretty good, it’s well-written and well organized, I was just so disappointed to find out how cold and callous he was. He has a good relationship with his children today, he has remarried (though he doesn’t know when, because he doesn’t do “dates”), and he even has a pretty decent relationship with his ex-wife, so clearly he isn’t a complete asshat. I will continue to enjoy watching him on Sundays during the football season, his commentary is insightful and entertaining, but I won’t look at him through the same eyes I used to.
December 16, 2022
Jimmy Johnson needs no introduction to any football fan. The current Fox analyst is the rare coach to achieve multiple championships at both college and professional level and is best known for his University of Miami and Dallas Cowboy’s teams.
Johnson previously wrote a memoir back in the middle of his coaching days in 1993. Swagger, written years after he retired from coaching, isn’t a typical memoir and sets out much of Johnson’s life and career in fairly broad strokes. Instead, Johnson zooms in and out on different chapters of his life while building the broad narrative of a man who worked harder than anybody at coaching football at the expense of, and to the detriment of, his family.
The book combines reflections on Johnson’s most famous teams and relationships with the lessons Johnson learned along the way and the knowledge which he know imparts on (seemingly) anyone in football willing to visit him (but for one night only!). There are plenty of interesting stories and anecdotes about those he met along the way, none more so than his relationship with Cowboys owner (and his former college teammate) Jerry Jones.
The most gripping parts of the book are his personal stories about the cost his total dedication to football had on his family. Here we see Johnson, the cocky, confident coach, become unsure of himself as he faces obstacles much greater and more meaningful including his son’s addiction. At times it feels like Johnson is trying to convince himself that his single minded dedication to the job was worth the cost - what is clear to him is that it wouldn’t have been possible to be as successful without it.
Overall Swagger is a fun read. Cowboys fans will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the team’s glory days and ponder what might have been had Johnson’s relationship with Jones not soured. Any sports fan will find plenty to enjoy in Swagger.
What to watch after reading: Johnson and his teams are at the centre of a bunch of great documentaries. Before They Were Cowboys (ESPN+) tells the story of his time in college at Arizona playing alongside Jerry Jones. The U (ESPN+) is a gripping documentary on his play-hard win-hard University of Miami teams, and their rivalry with Notre Dame during this period is given it’s own documentary Catholics v Convicts (ESPN+). NFL Films also produced an episode of A Football Life dedicated to Johnson (available on NFL+) which gives a broader account of his career. There is also a great ESPN short The Great Trade Robbery on the trade of Herschel Walker which provided the draft picks Johnson needed to rebuild the Cowboys.
Johnson previously wrote a memoir back in the middle of his coaching days in 1993. Swagger, written years after he retired from coaching, isn’t a typical memoir and sets out much of Johnson’s life and career in fairly broad strokes. Instead, Johnson zooms in and out on different chapters of his life while building the broad narrative of a man who worked harder than anybody at coaching football at the expense of, and to the detriment of, his family.
The book combines reflections on Johnson’s most famous teams and relationships with the lessons Johnson learned along the way and the knowledge which he know imparts on (seemingly) anyone in football willing to visit him (but for one night only!). There are plenty of interesting stories and anecdotes about those he met along the way, none more so than his relationship with Cowboys owner (and his former college teammate) Jerry Jones.
The most gripping parts of the book are his personal stories about the cost his total dedication to football had on his family. Here we see Johnson, the cocky, confident coach, become unsure of himself as he faces obstacles much greater and more meaningful including his son’s addiction. At times it feels like Johnson is trying to convince himself that his single minded dedication to the job was worth the cost - what is clear to him is that it wouldn’t have been possible to be as successful without it.
Overall Swagger is a fun read. Cowboys fans will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the team’s glory days and ponder what might have been had Johnson’s relationship with Jones not soured. Any sports fan will find plenty to enjoy in Swagger.
What to watch after reading: Johnson and his teams are at the centre of a bunch of great documentaries. Before They Were Cowboys (ESPN+) tells the story of his time in college at Arizona playing alongside Jerry Jones. The U (ESPN+) is a gripping documentary on his play-hard win-hard University of Miami teams, and their rivalry with Notre Dame during this period is given it’s own documentary Catholics v Convicts (ESPN+). NFL Films also produced an episode of A Football Life dedicated to Johnson (available on NFL+) which gives a broader account of his career. There is also a great ESPN short The Great Trade Robbery on the trade of Herschel Walker which provided the draft picks Johnson needed to rebuild the Cowboys.
October 6, 2023
I thought it was a "safe" autobiography. Johnson did not rip into other coaches, other owners (including Jerry Jones), college administrators or media types. His vanity and ego are evident throughout the book. He gladly points out how he is sought out by other coaches, both at the collegiate and professional levels. Owners also travel to southern Florida to solicit his advice – – including to my surprise, the owner of the Eagles Jeffrey Laurie.
Johnson presents a nice defense of his coaching style at the University of Miami. I'm not sure that the actions of many of his players back in the 1980s were as benign as he described in the book. Johnson is a huge fan of Troy Aikman and credits a lot of the team's success to his relationship with his quarterback.
Probably the best chapter in the book is when he talks about the major changes in college football with the transfer portal and how athletes can now be compensated and paid. Johnson does a very good job of pointing out the potential pitfalls that college coaches and universities face with these recent changes.
Johnson sacrificed a lot of his personal life in order to be a successful head coach. He divorced his first wife and had very little to do with his sons. Johnson now appears to be living the good life in southern Florida. He doesn't seem to like broadcasting too much what does enjoy the company of Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Michael Strahan.
Ironic that Johnson is in the NFL Hall of Fame but has not been included for similar honors within the Dallas Cowboys. His relationship with Jerry Jones is covered but again, I think he was very tactful in his criticisms of the flamboyant owner.
Johnson presents a nice defense of his coaching style at the University of Miami. I'm not sure that the actions of many of his players back in the 1980s were as benign as he described in the book. Johnson is a huge fan of Troy Aikman and credits a lot of the team's success to his relationship with his quarterback.
Probably the best chapter in the book is when he talks about the major changes in college football with the transfer portal and how athletes can now be compensated and paid. Johnson does a very good job of pointing out the potential pitfalls that college coaches and universities face with these recent changes.
Johnson sacrificed a lot of his personal life in order to be a successful head coach. He divorced his first wife and had very little to do with his sons. Johnson now appears to be living the good life in southern Florida. He doesn't seem to like broadcasting too much what does enjoy the company of Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Michael Strahan.
Ironic that Johnson is in the NFL Hall of Fame but has not been included for similar honors within the Dallas Cowboys. His relationship with Jerry Jones is covered but again, I think he was very tactful in his criticisms of the flamboyant owner.
December 28, 2022
This autobiography of Jimmy Johnson is a breezy recounting of his years as a college and professional football coach. It does not go into a lot of details about football but is more a philosophy of how he approached the game and built cohesive winning teams.
Swagger is a great name for the book because it is full of unapologetic braggadocio. His football teams exuded the same, taking on his personality. Some might be turned off by this, but I found it gives the book authenticity and is true to his personality and character.
This book covers Johnson’s entire career from the University of Miami, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, retirement, and his current stint as an analyst on Fox’s NFL pre-game show. Most of the attention, however, is paid to his days Dallas.
There a few aspects of the book I really liked.
His brash personality comes through and he is unapologetic about it. His University of Miami and Dallas Cowboys teams exuded the same brashness and won championships.
He addresses his relationship with Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys directly and honestly. He doesn’t avoid the topic and while blunt in his assessment, he is respectful of what Jerry Jones has accomplished.
He also talks about the deep sacrifice his obsession with football caused him and his family, and in some ways wonders if it was all worth it. He did not have a real relationship with his sons when they grew up, and it was into their adulthood and his retirement that those relationships were really established. And one son went through a period of semi-homelessness and severe alcoholism. It makes one ponder the sacrifice of families for NFL coaches. Some coaches have had sons commit suicide or be in trouble with the law and often I have read about coaches burning out and the sacrifice their family made for their career.
I also like how he talks about the Fox show and his deep, genuine friendship with his colleagues on the show and how different his life is having now semi-retired and reestablishing relationships with his sons and former players and coaches.
Overall, while a bit breezy and light on football details, I found it an interesting and worthwhile read.
Swagger is a great name for the book because it is full of unapologetic braggadocio. His football teams exuded the same, taking on his personality. Some might be turned off by this, but I found it gives the book authenticity and is true to his personality and character.
This book covers Johnson’s entire career from the University of Miami, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, retirement, and his current stint as an analyst on Fox’s NFL pre-game show. Most of the attention, however, is paid to his days Dallas.
There a few aspects of the book I really liked.
His brash personality comes through and he is unapologetic about it. His University of Miami and Dallas Cowboys teams exuded the same brashness and won championships.
He addresses his relationship with Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys directly and honestly. He doesn’t avoid the topic and while blunt in his assessment, he is respectful of what Jerry Jones has accomplished.
He also talks about the deep sacrifice his obsession with football caused him and his family, and in some ways wonders if it was all worth it. He did not have a real relationship with his sons when they grew up, and it was into their adulthood and his retirement that those relationships were really established. And one son went through a period of semi-homelessness and severe alcoholism. It makes one ponder the sacrifice of families for NFL coaches. Some coaches have had sons commit suicide or be in trouble with the law and often I have read about coaches burning out and the sacrifice their family made for their career.
I also like how he talks about the Fox show and his deep, genuine friendship with his colleagues on the show and how different his life is having now semi-retired and reestablishing relationships with his sons and former players and coaches.
Overall, while a bit breezy and light on football details, I found it an interesting and worthwhile read.
December 25, 2023
Jimmy Johnson delivers one of the of the more unorthodox memoirs I've read.
While the structure is loosely chronological, Johnson skips straight to his time coaching the Miami Hurricanes, although he occasionally flashes back to his youth or earlier career. He frequently waxes philosophical about life and coaching. He talks a lot about swagger - being aggressive, being competitive about everything, and unrepentant gloating - while remaining disciplined. Yet he's a man not afraid to cry. He's honest about how coaching burned him because of the hardass he needed to be. How his obsessive career cost him his first marriage and his sons' childhoods. How difficult it was to coach the Dolphins without most of the coaching family he'd surrounded himself with during his previous coaching jobs. How the loss of his mother led to the end of his coaching career (and, although he doesn't explicitly say it, I think he was worried it would ruin his second marriage too). How much his induction in the NFL Hall of Fame meant to him.
it's interesting to see Jimmy having found contentment in a mostly-relaxed Keys lifestyle, even if a little manic about fishing. However, the master of psychology never completely puts himself under the microscope. Normal people aren't that competitive or obsessive; something deep inside drove him hard. Insecurity because of his near poverty growing up? A lot of people who grow up without enough never find it as an adult either, even if they become rich; Jimmy did.
Fascinating stuff. Football fans will love it.
While the structure is loosely chronological, Johnson skips straight to his time coaching the Miami Hurricanes, although he occasionally flashes back to his youth or earlier career. He frequently waxes philosophical about life and coaching. He talks a lot about swagger - being aggressive, being competitive about everything, and unrepentant gloating - while remaining disciplined. Yet he's a man not afraid to cry. He's honest about how coaching burned him because of the hardass he needed to be. How his obsessive career cost him his first marriage and his sons' childhoods. How difficult it was to coach the Dolphins without most of the coaching family he'd surrounded himself with during his previous coaching jobs. How the loss of his mother led to the end of his coaching career (and, although he doesn't explicitly say it, I think he was worried it would ruin his second marriage too). How much his induction in the NFL Hall of Fame meant to him.
it's interesting to see Jimmy having found contentment in a mostly-relaxed Keys lifestyle, even if a little manic about fishing. However, the master of psychology never completely puts himself under the microscope. Normal people aren't that competitive or obsessive; something deep inside drove him hard. Insecurity because of his near poverty growing up? A lot of people who grow up without enough never find it as an adult either, even if they become rich; Jimmy did.
Fascinating stuff. Football fans will love it.
January 12, 2023
This was a very interesting read. I had read Jimmy's book about turning the Cowboys around back in the 90s, but this book was about his whole life. The book is inspirational and uplifting at times, and sad at others. Jimmy had unparalleled success -- winning championships at Arkansas as a player, at Univ. of Miami and Dallas Cowboys as a head coach. But he also had a lot of sadness and heartache. Due to his unwavering commitment to be a success as a coach, when he got the job as Cowboys coach, he divorced his wife so he wouldn't have that distraction. He saw thousands of players and plays and games of football but didn't have a chance to watch either of his sons play football. One of his sons became an alcoholic and caused himself and Jimmy and family lots of pain. Thankfully the story has a happy ending. His son got his life on track and now operates multiple recovery centers. He has great relationships with both of his sons. He married his girlfriend Rhonda. He stays in football with his commentating gig on the FOX pregame NFL show. But mostly now he can enjoy the fruits of his success with his life in the Keys, fishing and doing what he wants. The book is easy to read and written in Jimmy's voice as if he were sitting down telling you these stories himself. There is much to learn from his life story.
April 29, 2023
Jimmy had a lot to prove coming from small-town Port Arthur TX but he managed to win and dominate the sport at every level. Wasn’t the most likable guy on the team, but he knew how to succeed. As the NFL hosts another “draft” for talent, you see what he looked for in a pro player and it worked! Intelligence, team attitude, work ethic, humility, grit, aggressiveness, all are characteristics Jimmy looked for in employees and management. This book covers a lot of ground, from the chalk board to the board room, from the fishing boat to the lifeboat of beating addiction. Jimmy tells the real story of the “U” and of the Dallas Cowboys. He humbly admits his short-comings, his blind-spots, his self-image woes, his work-ethic, lost family time, his obsessive-focus on winning. The cost is great, the celebration was sincere; Jimmy Johnson rode through the most popular sport in America for 40-years, as the top dawg even on pre-game television. The memoir is light, fast, and funny, just like his teams, and I recommend the read for any football fan who can remember this 90's iconic story from the Hall of Fame coach at the peak of his faculties. Great title: Swagger! It means that you are prepared and ready to whip someone’s ass, and when you do, it ain’t braggin’ it is “swagger.”
December 31, 2022
An entertaining light read by one of the most successful football coaches of the last 30 years.
Johnson coached with a brash in your face style which was unusual back then. He doesn't apologize for that and embraces the manner in which he developed the University of Miami into a national championship team and later returning the Dallas Cowboys to their former glory.
Johnson doesn't go deep into the weeds on football strategy although he does provide an excellent analysis of his famous NFL draft successes. The book is more allegorical providing mostly funny and what seems brutally honest stories of the game and its players.
My favorite part of the book though is introduced at the beginning and then again at the end and that is the transformation of Johnson from a workaholic, hard driving, success driven type A, to a man who left the game on his own terms and now leads a leisurely life where he can enjoy the fruits of his success. While certainly it helps having earned millions of dollars in his career something that most people don't have, Johnson's provides a good example of understanding that you cannot live your entire life in fifth gear.
Johnson coached with a brash in your face style which was unusual back then. He doesn't apologize for that and embraces the manner in which he developed the University of Miami into a national championship team and later returning the Dallas Cowboys to their former glory.
Johnson doesn't go deep into the weeds on football strategy although he does provide an excellent analysis of his famous NFL draft successes. The book is more allegorical providing mostly funny and what seems brutally honest stories of the game and its players.
My favorite part of the book though is introduced at the beginning and then again at the end and that is the transformation of Johnson from a workaholic, hard driving, success driven type A, to a man who left the game on his own terms and now leads a leisurely life where he can enjoy the fruits of his success. While certainly it helps having earned millions of dollars in his career something that most people don't have, Johnson's provides a good example of understanding that you cannot live your entire life in fifth gear.
April 27, 2025
I enjoyed this book for the stories he shares, not so much for the bragging. Guys like Jimmy are just wired differently, and he is intense and pretty honest in what he reveals. From the huge amount of time lost with his sons, to how he once cut a player with asthma, he gets into the highs and lows of an incredible footbal life. I love the game of football, and so it was just natural for me to read this book from one of the most well known personalities in the game. This guy deserves to brag, he did it all with swagger, and his teams took on his identity. the book progresses very quickly, with a breezy writer's voice. There are lots of good football stories. Jimmy is a master of discipline, but this book doe not devolve into a bunch of self help material. He lays out what he did, how hard he did it, and he busted his ass along the way. There were costs to his success, and he is generous in the insight he gives the reader into his life.
September 2, 2023
I have always had a love/hate relationship with Jimmy Johnson. As a Miami Hurricane fan in college football, who cannot love the guy? As a Professional football 49er fan, how can you stand the guy? So many more Super Bowl Trophies would sit in San Francisco. But while I have read my fair share of autobiographies about sports, I found this one is the most honest of the lot. He speaks of successes and utter failures as a person...and for that, what is there not to like? I watched football throughout his career but getting the behind the scenes moments really can change your perspective. His relationship with his wives and sons really is telling but it also tells a reflective life lived and for that it is worth its weight in gold. If your a football fan, a Miami Hurricane Fan, a Dallas Cowboy Fan or a Miami Dolphin fan.....read this book!
January 9, 2023
As a huge Cowboys fan, I had to take advantage of this opportunity to see what was going on inside the helmet haired head of the many who won it all for us...twice, as he likes to point out. The book is surprisingly short, given all the material he had to work with, but we get all of the good stuff, including the relationship with Jerry Jones, how he built his pro and college teams, and how he has lived after football, enjoying his time on the pregame shows. The most interesting parts were how much he hated the persona he felt that he had to put on in order to be successful, and how much me felt that being that person for so long cost him in his "real" life. Lots to learn there. Highly recommended for Cowboy fans.
April 24, 2023
I CHOSE THIS BOOK BECAUSE … I am a Dallas Cowboys fan. I wanted to learn about the great one, the great former Cowboys coach, Jimmy Johnson.
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? A little light on details, but a good run-through of Jimmy’s time in Miami and Dallas. Love the premise that success can be both intense and fun.
RECOMMEND? Of course. “How ‘bout them Cowboys!”
FAVORITE QUOTE: “People get confused about swagger. Sometimes people look at the old Miami teams and they say swagger was celebrating. No. Swagger is confidence. You’re confident that you’re going to kick somebody’s ass. That’s what swagger is.”
DID IT MEET EXPECTATIONS? A little light on details, but a good run-through of Jimmy’s time in Miami and Dallas. Love the premise that success can be both intense and fun.
RECOMMEND? Of course. “How ‘bout them Cowboys!”
FAVORITE QUOTE: “People get confused about swagger. Sometimes people look at the old Miami teams and they say swagger was celebrating. No. Swagger is confidence. You’re confident that you’re going to kick somebody’s ass. That’s what swagger is.”
September 15, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Swagger. Jimmy Johnson did a great job telling his story. Most of the stories I knew from my various sports and blog reading. I especially knew about the head butting with Jerry Jones and how that relationship became toxic. To this day, I'm still sad that divorce had to happen.
Jimmy Johnson came out of this book as confident and humble. He was one of the first members on his team to celebrate a win and to admit his part in defeat. I was really touched by the stories of his parents and sons. That part was quite tragic, but also uplifting after years of struggle.
I highly recommend this book.
Jimmy Johnson came out of this book as confident and humble. He was one of the first members on his team to celebrate a win and to admit his part in defeat. I was really touched by the stories of his parents and sons. That part was quite tragic, but also uplifting after years of struggle.
I highly recommend this book.
December 12, 2022
"Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Football - SWAGGER". Jimmy Johnson coaching biography. Powerful read about him as a coach, pitfalls as a husband and father, life after coaching, Fox Sports, the Hall of Fame, the current NIL and player portal in College football, today's NFL and his life living and fishing in the keys. It was an excellent read and really changed some opinions about the person. Both good and bad. Throughout the book you learn about his work ethic, discipline, drive to perfection and winning desire at everything he tries.
December 15, 2022
Interesting Read
Learned som new and interesting things about Johnson. If both he and Jerry Jones swallowed their egos, they would have had the opportunity to win more than two Super Bowls together. It was good to see Johnson be accountable and admit he was equally at fault for the break up. However, I can see how Johnson’s ego was bigger and he forgot who owns the team. Overall very good read.
Learned som new and interesting things about Johnson. If both he and Jerry Jones swallowed their egos, they would have had the opportunity to win more than two Super Bowls together. It was good to see Johnson be accountable and admit he was equally at fault for the break up. However, I can see how Johnson’s ego was bigger and he forgot who owns the team. Overall very good read.
March 25, 2023
LOVED his storytelling. It really reminds you just how important the value of networking is. If it wasn’t for where he went to college he wouldn’t have had the relationship with Jerry Jones that propelled him to the job. I loved the raw emotion you felt when he spoke of his family (and lack of involvement) and how he built a championship team. Particularly loved his take on the world of college sports, and the NFL today and his thoughts on the state of the game today.
November 18, 2022
Couldn’t put it down
He ate, drank and slept football. I don’t recall him ever answering; if he had it to do all over would he change anything. To achieve his level of greatness, abandonment of everything else must occur. I was constantly reminded of the scripture, what does it profit a man if he gain the world but lose his soul. Sad story in many ways, but fascinating, too.
He ate, drank and slept football. I don’t recall him ever answering; if he had it to do all over would he change anything. To achieve his level of greatness, abandonment of everything else must occur. I was constantly reminded of the scripture, what does it profit a man if he gain the world but lose his soul. Sad story in many ways, but fascinating, too.
December 3, 2022
I enjoyed the story but it was not a book that kept me on pins and needles. It is not a story of hardships or overcoming adversity. It was his story and how hard he had to work. For me, it is a shame someone has to put in so many hours to achieve success that it causes failure in personal life. It was nice to see he ultimately found happiness in his personal life.
January 6, 2023
Incredible inspiring book from an one of the greatest football coaches and motivators of all time. The book could have been written in 1990 without changing a word. The insights and anecdotes were entertaining and honest without holding back. A refreshing and inspirational book that is tough to put down. Jimmy won again!
December 9, 2023
As a diehard Cowboys fan this was required reading. It felt as if Johnson was being honest, but I’m sure there’s a fair amount of BS here.
There’s no doubt Johnson is a terrific motivator and judge of football talent, but he seems to have sadness and regrets too. His coaching obsession wrecked his family relationships. Is any career success worth that?
There’s no doubt Johnson is a terrific motivator and judge of football talent, but he seems to have sadness and regrets too. His coaching obsession wrecked his family relationships. Is any career success worth that?
February 2, 2024
great memoir of a HOF coach
In depth autobiography of a coaching legend in our time that worked and made many personal sacrifices to win at all costs. This is a great read and is very insightful in the life of football coaches at the highest levels. Not all ends well because the personal costs are high, I highly recommend.
In depth autobiography of a coaching legend in our time that worked and made many personal sacrifices to win at all costs. This is a great read and is very insightful in the life of football coaches at the highest levels. Not all ends well because the personal costs are high, I highly recommend.
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