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Jimmy: 'I've had my day' Dolphins' Johnson retires; Wannstedt takes over
Posted: Monday January 17, 2000 08:37 AM
DAVIE, Fla. (CNNSI.com) -- Jimmy Johnson's four-year tenure as coach of the Miami Dolphins is over. Johnson resigned as coach of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, one day after the worst loss in franchise history, and was replaced by Dave Wannstedt. Johnson will remain with the team in a limited role, helping with personnel decisions. Wannstedt, Miami's assistant head coach and former head coach of the Chicago Bears, signed a 3-year contract, team owner Wayne Huizenga said at a news conference. "This time it's final and forever," Johnson said. "I really feel that this transition will be very smooth."
Johnson's decision, first reported by Sports Illustrated's Peter King, came in the wake of Saturday's 62-7 playoff loss at Jacksonville. The 56-year-old Johnson decided to retire a year ago, then changed his mind the next day after meeting with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga. This time, the 56-year-old coach said he's committed to the decision. "I guess you might say it's my time," Johnson said. "I've had my time in the sun. I've had my time in the spotlight, and now it's time to spend time with my family." Johnson was vague about his new role with the Dolphins. "Wayne asked me to help in personnel matters and free agency, which I will continue to do," Johnson said. "But I will not be here on a day-to-day basis." Johnson's resignation could affect the future of quarterback Dan Marino, who is also considering retirement. Wannstedt said he hopes to speak with Marino soon. "I can stand and tell you here right now that the goals of our football team today are no different than what they were in July," Wannstedt said. "And that's reaching the Super Bowl." The Dolphins are the sixth team to make a coaching change since the end of the season, joining, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans and the New York Jets.
Johnson would have preferred a better ending. He took the blame for Saturday's rout, saying the team practiced too much last week and didn't recover physically from a first-round win at Seattle. Johnson won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes, but he won only two playoff games and no division titles in four seasons with the Dolphins. Still, he said, the franchise is in better shape than when he replaced Hall of Fame coach Don Shula in 1996. "We're one of just three teams that made the playoffs the past three years, and we advanced the last two years," he said. "We didn't win a championship, but we've got a lot of young talent and we're in great shape with the salary cap. There's no reason we can't move up from here." At midseason the Dolphins shared the NFL's best record at 7-1, but they went 3-7 the rest of the year. When Johnson clashed with Marino, who struggled after missing five games with a neck injury, fans and the media sided with the quarterback. Johnson was also criticized for several controversial acquisitions. Rookie running back Cecil Collins, a convicted felon on probation, was suspended after being arrested on burglary charges. Rookie defensive end Dimitrius Underwood, who said he was torn between his faith and football, reluctantly joined the Dolphins, attempted suicide and was released. Johnson was out of coaching for two years before he replaced Shula. He was a popular choice in South Florida, where fans remembered him for leading the Hurricanes to the national championship in 1987. When Johnson took the job, he pledged that the Dolphins would reach the Super Bowl in three years. Instead he finished 38-31 with Miami. Wannstedt said the defense will operate as it has under Johnson. He said there is room for improvement on offense, but the philosophy will remain the same. "Anytime there is a coaching change it affects a lot of people, and there will be changes for the betterment," Wannstedt said. "In any way that we feel we can make improvement, we're going to do it." Wannstedt has assumed all levels of responsibility under Johnson, helping out his longtime friend wherever needed. In the first two games, Wannstedt sat in the coaches' box for the first half, evaluating the game plan he helped install. Then he spent the second half on the sideline. Johnson hired Wannstedt a year ago after quitting, then coming back to the Dolphins in the span of 24 hours, when his mother died and the strain of an emotional season had taken its toll. Huizenga asked Johnson what it would take for him to stay, and Johnson suggested hiring Wannstedt to relieve some of his burden as coach and general manager. Wannstedt had been fired by the Chicago Bears following a 4-12 finish in 1998. Wannstedt and Johnson coached together for 13 years before this season. In Miami, they were reunited for the first time since 1992, when they won a Super Bowl with Dallas. The pair coached through probation at Oklahoma State and through undefeated and championship seasons at the University of Miami. They moved to the NFL and went from 1-15 to the Super Bowl three years later. "You don't develop relationships like this from reading about them in a book or by watching a videotape on it," Wannstedt said earlier this season. "There's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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