Back in ’99, Jimmy Johnson hung up his coaching headset and made himself right at home on FOX NFL Sunday. And let’s just say—the man was built for TV. Sharp takes, legendary stories, and that classic no-nonsense attitude? Yeah, he fit in perfectly. Fast forward a few decades of breaking down games and roasting Terry Bradshaw, the Cowboys legend is calling it a wrap on his TV career too.

Believe it or not, that’s the deal. But just as he steps away from the Fox desk, he’s spilling the tea on one of his biggest coaching what-ifs—missing out on drafting Michael Strahan. On Monday, Johnson made an appearance on Fox Sports Radio on YouTube where he was asked to share his thoughts with the audience about why he loved coaching.

At first, he talked about how he watched Bradshaw playing at college and how he coached Howie Long. Then came his 1993 NFL draft moment when he was unable to draft Strahan. “I had Michael Strahan you know, there in Dallas, and I was going to draft him and he reminds me of it many times it was a mistake. I was trying to get him cheap and New York jumped in front of me so I wasn’t able to draft him,” he stated on Fox Sports Radio YouTube.

Well, Johnson was surely ready to draft him back in 1993, but the New York Giants were faster than him. After that mistake, Strahan went on to play for 15 seasons with the Giants and won a Super Bowl ring in 2008. Now that Jimmy Johnson has announced his retirement, Strahan didn’t wait for a moment and hopped on to his official IG handle to congratulate him.

“Congratulations on your retirement @jimmyjohnson4616! It has been 17 seasons of fun and laughs sitting next to you. You’re truly one of a kind and thanks for being you and gifting me with one of the best friendships anyone could ever ask for. Hope you enjoy fishing and drinking beers on the boat🛥️. You deserve it, love you Coach!” Strahan captioned.

And it’s just not Strahan. Fans and colleagues of Johnson took to social media and paid tribute to Johnson and his legendary coaching and broadcasting career. After all, the 81-year-old Johnson is leaving Fox after three decades.

Jimmy Johnson moves on after 31 years at Fox

Ever since the network covered the Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, there had been speculations about Johnson’s retirement. During the pre-game show of the Super Bowl, Fox NFL Sunday host, Curt Menefee, asked him if the Super Bowl LIX would be his last time on-air of his career. To his response, Johnson replied, “One day at a time, Curt.”

Now, on Monday, Johnson announced his retirement on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “I’ve made an extremely difficult decision,” Johnson said. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I’ve decided to retire from Fox…Probably the most fun I’ve ever had in my career—and that’s counting Super Bowls and national championships–was at Fox Sports. I have an absolute ball with my friends on the set. The best friends I’ve ever had, there with Fox.”

After hanging up his coaching whistle, Jimmy Johnson seamlessly transitioned into the world of broadcasting, joining FOX NFL Sunday in 1994. Correction: he’s been an analyst on Fox NFL Sunday even since the program debuted in 1994. At first, he was a fan favorite for his head coaching role that led the Cowboys to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

And just when he transitioned as an analyst, it was his sharp insights and charismatic presence that made him fan favorite. Once Again! Except for his brief coaching stint with the Dolphins from 1996 to 1999, Jimmy Johnson remained a cornerstone at Fox’ NFL Coverage. And now, he’s ending his 31-year career as a broadcaster on a high note. There’s no denying that he’s going to miss it. As the man himself says, “I’m gonna miss it. I’m gonna miss all the guys. I’ll see ’em occasionally. But it has been a great run starting back 31 years ago.”