NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Coaches of All-Time

18. Jimmy Johnson (1989-1999)

When new Cowboys owner Jerry Springer, err…Jones, hired Jimmy Johnson from the University of Miami he knew he had himself in his words, “a fine football coach”. What he could not have expected is that Johnson would go on to quickly win two Super Bowl titles and still leave Jerry feeling the need to rid himself of Johnson.

There’s little doubt that the organization put itself in the position of having two egomaniacs trying to cooperate with one another. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and apparently that includes egos. But it’s equally curious that a state so big could not handle the two of them, given how incredibly successful they were in such a short period.

After tanking post-Tom Landry, the Cowboys fell on such hard times prior to Jones’s buying the team that it earned the No. 1 Draft pick in 1989 following a 1-15 season. By 1992, Johnson had them winning the Super Bowl. Of course, that No. 1 pick, Troy Aikman, combined with a Miami connection, Michael Irvin, and a fellow Floridian Emmitt Smith, made things a bit easier on Johnson.

But no coach wins without talent. Johnson changed the culture quickly, giving Dallas the expectation to win. And win it did. His .556 winning percentage includes his stint in Miami, so in reality it is actually quite a bit more impressive. His .692 playoff winning percentage and six (of nine) playoff seasons proves that. As do his two big fat Super Bowl rings.

Next: Which one-time 49ers coach is next?