NFL

A look back at the Jimmy Johnson AI Super Bowl tribute video

During the Super Bowl last month, Fox broadcasted a highly criticized AI video tribute to Fox Sports analyst Jimmy Johnson, but now it all makes sense.

Focus on Sport

Jennifer Bubel

Sports journalist who grew up in Dallas, TX. Lover of all things sports, she got her degree from Texas Tech University (Wreck ‘em Tech!) in 2011. Joined Diario AS USA in 2021 and now covers mostly American sports (primarily NFL, NBA, and MLB) as well as soccer from around the world.

Update: Mar 3rd, 2025 16:34 EST

On Monday, Jimmy Johnson announced he would be retiring from Fox Sports after 31 years as an analyst for the network. That checks out, as just last month, Fox broadcast a four-minute tribute video to Johnson during the Super Bowl.

Hall-of-Fame coach and broadcaster Jimmy Johnson, who won two Super Bowls and a national championship as a head coach, announced his retirement from Fox Sports after 31 years with the network. pic.twitter.com/xN8xXZ62nU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2025

A look back at the AI-generated Jimmy Johnson tribute

The video tribute to Johnson was completely AI generated. It chronicled each step of his career, starting from his time as a young defensive lineman at Arkansas alongside Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, to his time as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech in 1965, then leading the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowls in the ‘90s, leading the Miami Hurricanes to a national championship, and finally becoming an analyst at Fox Sports.

Here’s a look at the video, which aired on Super Bowl Sunday:

LEGEND.

An incredible look at the career of @JimmyJohnson from his time as a player to now 🏈🤩 pic.twitter.com/QGd3QmJxzi
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 9, 2025

Although the video highlights Johnson’s incredible career and impact on the NFL, it was widely criticized for the AI, which can sometimes come across as creepy. There were also times in the video in which Johnson’s voice (he narrated the video) didn’t match up with his AI-generated self.

Anybody else find this Jimmy Johnson AI thing a little weird and off pic.twitter.com/wvOG53gv7O
— Jordan Glass (@TheJordanGlass) February 9, 2025

Johnson, however, said at the time that he personally loved the tribute.

“I’ve got to thank my family for allowing me the time to accomplish some of those things,” Johnson said during the Super Bowl broadcast, when he saw the complete video for the first time. “I was blessed to have great players, great assistant coaches and great friends. Thank you.”

At the time, Johnson was asked if this was goodbye, and he replied, “one day at a time”. It seems that indeed it was a goodbye.

“I can truly say because of my family and because of you all, I’ve never been happier than in this time of my life,” Johnson said. “Happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”

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