2026 Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Inductee Coach Jimmy Suffered a Heart Disease That Nearly Took His Life 18 Years Ago
December 16, 2026
This article was last updated by Sangita Budhathoki on December 16, 2026
Former NFL coach Jimmy Johnson revealed his heart attack survival story during his appearance on the TV show “Survivor: Nicaragua” in 2010.
American sports analyst and former football coach James William Johnson was born in Port Arthur, Texas, U.S., on July 16, 1943.
Johnson was a head football coach on the collegiate level from 1979 to 1988 and in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons.
He served as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech (1965), Picayune Memorial HS (MS) (1966), Wichita State (1967), and Iowa State (1968–1969).
His head coach journey started at Oklahoma State (1979–1983) and Miami (FL) (1984–1988).
He finally became an NFL head coach at Dallas Cowboys (1989–1993) and Miami Dolphins (1996–1999).
Moreover, his accomplishments at the University of Miami and the Dallas Cowboys made him the only head football coach to win a national championship in college football and a Super Bowl.
After his coaching retirement, Johnson appeared as an analyst for Fox Sports and is one of the featured commentators of Fox NFL Sunday.
Former Head Coach Jimmy Johnson Shares The Same Name As Late NFL Legendary Cornerback Jimmy Johnson (James Earl Johnson)
Some names genuinely carry prestige and influence with them. Similarly, the name ‘Jimmy Johnson’ has left a colossal legacy in NFL history.
James William Johnson, former NFL head coach, and James Earl Johnson, former San Francisco 49ers cornerback, are the league’s two most notable people with the same name.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmy Johnson in 1973.Late James Earl Johnson was one of the best cornerbacks in both 49ers and NFL history.
From 1961 until 1976, Johnson played safety, wide receiver, and cornerback with the 49ers.
In his victorious career, he won five Pro Bowl choices, three first-team All-Pro honors, and a berth on the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team in the 1970s.
One illustration of Johnson’s influence on the 49ers is his inclusion as a founding member of the franchise’s Hall of Fame, which debuted in 2009.
Unfortunately, Jimmy Earl Johnson passed away on May 8, 2026, aged 86, in California’s San Francisco Bay Area.
Although his family never revealed the cause of his death, it was well known that the legend had a prolonged illness.
Jimmy Johnson Led A More Healthy Lifestyle After Getting Diagnosed With A “Silent Heart Attack”
Twelve years ago, James William Johnson opened up about having a heart disease in one of the awareness campaign videos.
In the aforementioned video, he talks about how heart disease nearly took his life, but timely intervention and treatment helped him live a healthy and long life.
Johnson consulted with an interventional cardiologist to obtain a stent to alleviate his heart disease issues.
While undergoing a sophisticated nuclear technique, the cardiologist asked Johnson if he was aware that he had experienced a heart attack a few years prior.
The doctor classified it as a “silent heart attack“, which was prevalent among men of Johnson’s age.
The physician displayed pictures of the scar tissue to him. Moreover, the physician informed him that one of his arteries had a blockage and another was 70% congested.
Doctors implanted stents in Johnson’s chest a week later.
Johnson changed his diet and exercise routine in the months that followed. Hence, he noticed his cholesterol drop from 220 to less than 100, and lost 30 pounds.
Nowadays, Jimmy William Johnson is a Fox Sports analyst and an advisor to the Dallas Cowboys.
In Case You Didn’t know
- James William Johnson has two sons with his ex-wife, Linda Kay Cooper.
- On July 18, 1999, Johnson remarried with Rhonda Rookmaaker.
- He owns JJ’s Big Chill, a bar and grill near mile marker 104 in Key Largo, Florida. He formerly owned Three Rings restaurant in Miami.
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As a content writer at Players Bio, Rimsha Khatri's primary goal is to write well-researched news articles about athletes and sports. She prioritizes leveraging her literary abilities and creative flair to deliver entertaining and highly informative content to readers and subscribers.
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