Jimmy Johnson says Cowboys' 'Top-heavy' roster must avoid injuries in 2025
Last season saw Dallas experience several obstacles, but none likely bigger than the injury bug, which most notably hit quarterback Dak Prescott last November with a hamstring injury that landed the Pro Bowl signal caller on injured reserve, leading Johnson to make his first and most obvious key for Dallas to return to its winning ways: health.
"The biggest thing for the Cowboys, it's a big thing for any team, is to stay healthy,' Jimmy Johnson told DallasCowboys.com. 'I think it's probably more important for the Cowboys to stay healthy for a couple reasons. No. 1, they're top-heavy salary wise. And so, their 53-man roster may not be quite as talented at the bottom as some of these other teams."
Entering its 66th season as a franchise, the Cowboys have not won a world title since the Johnson-built dynasty of the 1990s. The current team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 7-10 finish in 2024. The Hall of Fame offered his insight and identified the key factor that must unfold for the Cowboys to bounce back in what has become a more competitive NFC East.
Dallas has committed a significant amount of money recently, primarily to Prescott ($60 million per season), All-Pro CeeDee Lamb ($34 million per season), Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs ($19.4 million per season), and star defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa ($20 million per season). Micah Parsons, who is seeking a long term extension ahead of the 2025 season awaits his turn.
While the health of star talent will be a key factor, another point of emphasis regarding health that Johnson noted is the late gauntlet stretch of the team's season. Dallas, between weeks 12 and 17, will face off against six playoff teams from the previous year. All six teams (Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders) have playoff expectations in 2025, with some even being considered contenders, and four of them won 14 or more games the year before. Meaning all hands will need to be on deck for this historic stretch.
"The other thing is, they have a very difficult stretch there toward the end of the season," Johnson added. "So, if they're not at full strength when they're playing those top teams – the second half of at the end of the season, it's going to be a problem. So, staying healthy is the No. 1 key."
For seven decades, Johnson was deeply involved in the game of football, carving out a Hall of Fame career.
As a player, he helped the University of Arkansas win the 1964 national championship. As a coach, he won multiple titles, including back-to-back Super Bowls, and from 2002 to 2025, helped entertain millions as part of Fox Sports' coverage of the NFL.
With a new season approaching, Johnson for the first time since his youth, won't be involved in football. The legendary coach, announced his retirement from broadcasting following the 2024 NFL season and is now enjoying his post football career down in Florida and in his restaurant Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill.
While Johnson might be relaxing on the water, football will never be far out of reach for the man who won a pair of world titles with the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson, who was inducted into the Cowboys' ring of honor during the 2023 season, put his mark on a franchise that was in the cellar when he was brought along in 1989 after coaching the University of Miami to a national championship. His former Arkansas teammate, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, handed him the keys with confidence to the football operations side to help steer the team back in the right direction, and just five years later, the Cowboys would lift the Lombardi trophy in back-to-back years between 1992 and 1993.
Now in 2025, Jones is hoping that first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer can help the team reach that same level. While the hiring of Schottenheimer surprised many, the 51-year-old head coach, who is the son of the great Marty Schottenheimer, has Johnson's full vote of confidence ahead of the new season.
"Well, I knew his dad, Marty a long time ago when I was coaching Oklahoma State," Johnson recalled. "Marty was with Cleveland and came down to visit with one our players. He ended up drafting Chris Rockins (second round, 1984). But I've known Marty for years.
"Later on, Brian was working in Jacksonville. Urban Meyer had me fly down and visit with their staff about drafting players, and schedules, etc. I talked to Brian some there in Jacksonville. I think he's enthusiastic and is an outstanding coach. I think he'll do a really good job with the Cowboys."
The Cowboys will begin training camp on Monday and, in less than 50 days, will kick off the Schottenheimer era on Thursday, September 4, when the team visits the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 NFL season opener.
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