‘Competitive’ is Michael Jordan’s middle name. So in 2020, when he participated in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament (fishing competition) and took his 80-foot-long fishing boat, called ‘Catch 23,’ to participate against anglers from all around the world, he did pretty well. His crew caught a colossal 442-lb blue marlin and while that is impressive in itself, it was only the tournament’s sixth biggest fish. The biggest one weighed at 494.2 lbs. So what did ‘MJ’ say about it?

“If I could say this, I would love to be back with a little bit bigger fish,” he stated as his competitive spirit shone. But Michael Jordan’s interest in Jimmy Johnson’s event has always been more about than just competing. You see, there is an avid angler in Johnson, who still marvels at signing off a good day with a few Heineken Lights on his way home after spending close to three hours chasing and catching a 250-pounder of a blue marlin some two decades ago. And although personally for Jimmy, fishing has always been about relaxing and being on the water with a stereo on, it didn’t take much time for him to realize that passionate angles out there want to compete. Well, there’s money in it but as Jimmy would put it, “It’s just like the Emmys.” And that’s where Michael Jordan would come in.

In an interview with The Fisherman in 2023, Johnson stated, “We did Atlantic City for the first time in 2021. It was brought with some skepticism to start, but now everyone wants to be involved. MJ (Michael Jordan) now fishes the tournament.” With big names like Jordan giving the event the much-needed hype, it has only helped the JJFishWeek (Jimmy Johnson Fishing Week FL) attract the global attention of anglers, and ergo, more sponsors. As routine, MJ’s crew took part in the 14th edition Ring of Honor by JJFISHWEEK (Jimmy Johnson Fishing Week FL) in South Florida. And although they didn’t snag first place, they did well enough to earn hefty prize money. Jimmy Johnson took to X to announce how Jordan’s team did. He wrote:

“Congratulations to Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 coming in 3rd place In jjfishweek & winning $123,500.” Hosted by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, it boasted of a $1 million guaranteed purse and sponsors for the event included Contender, Yamaha, Papa’s Pilar, and Vera. Wondering how much prize money the others bagged that day? Well, the event is now done, and here are the standings along with the amounts they won:

• First place: Remix with 18 releases took home a total of $444,000.
• Second place: Paradise Found with 13 releases won a total of $ 206,500.
• Third place: Catch 23 with 12 releases for a total of $123,500 (Jordan’s crew).
• Fourth place: Sandrita with 12 releases took home a total of $41,250.
• Fifth place: Astra Sails with 11 releases got a total of $31,750.

But why does Jimmy Johnson love fishing so much? For all we know, he once declined a White House invitation just because of it!

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had to once snatch the phone away to do some damage control for former HC

Let us go back to 1993. After his team and he won the 1993 Super Bowl, they were invited to the White House, but Johnson bluntly declined, stating: “Thank you Mr. President, but I can’t. I’m going fishing in the Keys.” However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones quickly took the phone away and accepted the invite on the team’s behalf.

Johnson’s love for fishing can be traced to his childhood in Texas. He did some fishing there, but when he later moved to Islamorada in the Florida Keys, it was like he reached ground zero for world-class sport fishing. Johnson learned new techniques and a methodical approach.

“Flying back and forth to L.A. every week for Fox NFL Sunday, I have a lot of time to read, so I read every fishing magazine there is,” he once revealed.

“I also went out on charter boats, not necessarily to fish, but to watch the captains and their mates and see how they fish. And then, just picking it up on my own … just trial and error.”

While fishing became a relaxing hobby later, it wasn’t always that way for him. There were times when his competitive nature would awaken and he would get agitated if he made a mistake. However, time helped him mellow down.

Similarly, he has made the decision to retire from Fox Sports as an analyst—a position he held for 31 years. This marks the end of an era for fans who grew up listening to his insights. So why now? Johnson hinted at retirement during an emotional speech before Super Bowl LIX, telling fans he was “happier than ever.” At 81, he’s ready to enjoy life at a slower pace, possibly spending more time fishing, his other great passion. His retirement leaves a massive void in football media, as Fox NFL Sunday will have to find a way to replace one of the most beloved analysts in the business.

In the round-table discussion, Jimmy thanked people, saying, “I’ve gotta thank my family for allowing me that time to accomplish some of those lengths, and I was blessed I had great players, great assistance coaches, and great friends, thank you.”

From hoisting Lombardi Trophies to delivering legendary one-liners on TV, Johnson’s impact on the game is undeniable. He exits the stage with his legacy firmly cemented—both on the field and in the booth. Fans may not be ready to say goodbye, but as Johnson himself said, he’s taking it “one day at a time.”