Swagger

Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs - A Memoir

By: Jimmy Johnson, Dave Hyde

Narrated by: Chris Henry Coffey

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

FOX NFL Sunday analyst and legendary Hall of Fame head football coach Jimmy Johnson—the first to win both a college football championship and a Super Bowl—shares his long-awaited, intimate, no-regrets memoir recounting his extraordinary life and insightful lessons on winning, at every level.

Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson’s house isn’t on the way to anything. Yet, his private sanctuary on the Florida Keys’ Islamorada islands is a popular destination to which college and professional coaches, general managers, and team owners regularly trek to seek advice—how to build a positive team culture, draft elite players, balance work and family life, and lead a team to win. Why? Because Jimmy Johnson has done it all—rising through the college coaching ranks to lead the University of Miami Hurricanes to a national championship, winning two consecutive Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, and handling public triumphs while dealing with private adversity. Now, written with veteran sports journalist Dave Hyde, Johnson shares a candid account of his life experiences that have turned him into a legend in the coaching world.

From his early days on the college football fields at Louisiana Tech to his arrival as the Cowboys’ coach in 1989, Swagger traces the history of Johnson’s career, and his lifelong mission to win. His larger-than-life personality and hard-driving, tough-talking coaching style led him to become one of only six coaches in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Swagger shows the behind-the-scenes details of his professional conflict with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his personal revelations following his mother’s death and his son’s struggle with addiction. It reveals Johnson’s formula for winning, including his criteria for identifying talent, his core beliefs, how he replaced legendary coaches like Tom Landry and Don Shula, coached stars from a young Troy Aikman to an aging Dan Marino, and established the ever-elusive sense of “culture” that every team leader hopes to achieve. More than a highlight reel, Swagger reveals the hard-won lessons Jimmy Johnson has learned both as a man and as a coach through a lifetime dedicated to excellence.

©2022 James W. Johnson. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interesting perspective

I grew up in Port Arthur watching Jimmy play for the Port Arthur Yellow Jackets. His story rings true. Sorry he did not comment more on that part of his life or his playing for Arkansas. Didn’t care for the narrator or his performance. Glad he got his boys back. Must have been hard on his family.

This is the Jimmy I expected

In the 2000s, I interviewed Jimmy Johnson twice. He was lucid, intelligent, and engaged. He has always been a superb communicator and manipulator. Oh, and a great football coach. He carved out the life he wanted for himself at the expense of his sons and his first wife. He says as much. His is a story worth hearing for inspiration, historical perspective, and as a cautionary tale.

Entertaining, Well Executed, & a Great Story!

Enjoyed the narrator, has that swagger tone throughout the story telling. Jimmy opened up much more than expected, and is true to himself in the book. Loved Jimmy as a coach, and even more after reading his book. Well done.

Some behind the scenes,. some revisionist history

There are good parts of this book that provide some additional insight. But it is clear that Jimmy's life experiences since are tinting his memories. In fairness, while he doesn't directly say that his recollections might be inaccurate he does seem to make it clear that it could be a possibility. For example, JJ's side of the Dave Shula, Don Shula and Dan Marino relationships conflict with not only reputable reporting done at the time but the Shula's and Marino's own statements regarding both facts and their side of their relationship with JJ. (Marino being "on-board" with an emphasis on defense and the running game is particularly glaring in light of Marino's own statements after their playoff win over Seattle.) Finally, whether it is Coffey's narration or JJ's words as written, the Oakland Raiders are repeatedly referred to as Oklahoma.

Awesome book

One of my favorite coaches ever not only breaks down his success but also his personal failures. Great book. Transparency he put it all out there. Thanks Jimmy

Excellent

Jimmy is my favorite coach of all-time. His personality came across perfectly in the book. The narrator represented Jimmy with with both pace and accent. I love Jimmy’s humanity as he discusses mistakes and regrets.

One very small thing l noticed (and I can’t imagine this was the case in the book) was two references to “Oakland” were pronounced as “Oklahoma.”

Highly recommend if you are a Hurricane, Cowboy, or Jimmy fan.

Loved It!

I bleed Cowboys blue. This was a great book. It was surprising that Jimmy broke down and cried at times during his life. It's a must read especially for Cowboys fans. There are a lot of great stories.

Greqt book. Love Jimmy

Great book. Jimmy didn’t lie or leave anything out
My favorite all time coach good read

Very enjoyable listen

What can I say this was an enjoyable listen from start to finish if you’re a fan of football or the Dallas Cowboys, this is a must listen and gives you an inside glimpse into that Jess Jimmy Johnson’s mind in life, but his dynamic is Jerry Jones

Excellent story

A good explanation of one coaches method of success and how the drive for that success impacted his life.