Jerry Jones on Jimmy Johnson's Ring of Honor induction: 'I will believe anything that helps'

With the Dallas Cowboys headed toward another playoff run and Jimmy Johnson joining the Ring of Honor, team owner Jerry Jones made fans of America’s Team very happy this weekend. Some have connected Jones and Johnson’s rift and the lack of movement on getting the former coach into the Ring of Honor to Dallas’s dearth of playoff success over the last three decades.

Asked whether he believes finally inducting Johnson into the ROH will help end the Super Bowl “curse,” Jones admitted he’s superstitious. He discussed his surprise announcement on 105.3 The Fan on Monday.

“Well, I will believe anything that helps,” Jones said, via Jon Machota. “… I’m a superstitious guy, so I guess I must believe in that as well. Candidly, I certainly would have wanted to win more games than we’ve had a chance to (while being) a part of the Dallas Cowboys.”

With the addition of defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware this year, 23 players as well as coaches and executives are enshrined into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Seeing the response to Ware’s induction earlier this season also made Jones want to finally act on his promise from two years ago.

As happy as fans were for the former defensive linemen, they couldn’t help but wonder why Johnson was still excluded. The Super Bowl-winning head coach will have his induction ceremony during halftime of the Cowboys’ Dec. 30 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Jones, Johnson finally patch up relationship

Johnson began his coaching career as an assistant at Louisiana Tech University in 1965. He was instrumental in recruiting the likes of Terry Bradshaw in his time in Ruston, Louisiana. In 1979, Johnson landed his first head coaching opportunity with Oklahoma State. In five years in Stillwater, Johnson went 29-25-3.

Johnson was then hired by Miami in 1984. He led the Hurricanes to their first undefeated regular season in school history in 1986. The following season, the Hurricanes won the national championship by defeating Oklahoma.

All in all, Johnson went 52-9 in his time at Miami. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

In 1989, Jimmy Johnson was hired by Jerry Jones to be the second head coach in Dallas Cowboys history, filling the shoes of the legendary Tom Landry, who had led the Cowboys since 1960.

Johnson led the Cowboys to a 44-36 record over five seasons. He won back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Near the end of his tenure, Johnson and Jones’ relationship fell apart. The two parties agreed to mutually part ways following the 1993 season.