Jimmy Johnson’s Hunger Games: When the Dallas Cowboys Coach Got Hangry
Picture this: You are flying 30,000 feet above America, fresh off a brutal NFL loss that has your blood boiling. The flight attendant rolls up with dinner service, and instead of letting your players eat, you drop the hammer with three little words: “They don’t deserve to eat.” Welcome to Jimmy Johnson’s Airlines, where meals are earned and losses come with an empty stomach.
When Coaching Got Real Uncomfortable
The legendary Dallas Cowboys coach recently spilled the beans about one of his most controversial coaching decisions in Netflix’s upcoming docuseries “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.“ And boy, did he serve up some piping hot drama that has been talked about for decades later.
“After that loss, we get on the plane and I am just fuming because of the way we played,” Johnson recalled, his voice still carrying that old fire. “So the flight attendant starts to serve the meal, and I say, ‘No. No meal. They don’t deserve to eat.'” We have all had those moments where we’re so frustrated we could skip dinner. But he took it to a whole different altitude. Literally.
Players Still Salty About the Snub
The fallout from Johnson’s hunger strike decision hit harder than a Darren Woodson tackle. Star Wide Receiver Michael Irvin, who caught passes and apparently not meals that day, summed it up perfectly: “We couldn’t eat man, we were starving.” Pass rusher Charles Haley didn’t mince words either, calling the coach “a dictator” and “an a*e” who “didn’t care what guys thought about him.” Johnson also had his reasons, twisted as they might seem.
The Method Behind the Madness
Johnson wasn’t just being cruel for kicks. The man had a philosophy, albeit one that would probably get you kicked out of most parenting classes today. “I wanted ’em to expect to win every single time they go out,” Johnson said. “I want ’em to be nauseated, to be sick at their stomach when they lose. Because that’s how I felt.” It is like that old saying goes: Misery loves company. Johnson was feeling sick about the loss, so why shouldn’t his players share in that delightful experience at cruising altitude?
Success Born From Suffering?
Johnson’s tough-love approach actually worked. Despite going 1-15 in his first season in 1989, the team bounced back. The team posted an 11-5 record in 1991, followed by 13-3 in 1992 and 12-4 in 1993. They also won back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1993 and 1994. Not too shabby for a bunch of guys who occasionally went to bed without airplane dinner.
The coach’s five-year tenure in Dallas ended with a 44-36 regular season record and those two shiny Lombardi Trophies. The man knew how to win, even if his methods were about as comfortable as economy seating.
The Netflix Tell-All
This juicy revelation is just a taste of what’s coming in “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” on Netflix. The documentary promises to dive deep into the complicated relationship between Johnson and Owner Jerry Jones, along with interviews from team legends like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders.
If Johnson’s meal-withholding antics are any indication, this documentary is going to serve up more drama than a reality TV show. And unlike those Cowboys players on that fateful flight, viewers will be well-fed with entertainment.
The Legacy Lives On
Johnson eventually moved on to coach the Miami Dolphins for four seasons, leading them to three playoff appearances. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, cementing his legacy as one of the game’s great coaches.
Meanwhile, Dallas managed to snag one more Super Bowl in 1996 under Barry Switzer, but they have been hungrier for postseason success ever since. They have won just five playoff games since their last championship. Maybe they should have kept Johnson’s no-meal policy. It seemed to work better than whatever they’ve been serving up lately.
