Lions' Dan Campbell can't wait for team to play in front of Cowboys coaching legend

Allen Park — After defeating the Minnesota Vikings to snap a 30-year divisional title drought, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has moved his attention to bigger and better things.

Such as impressing Dallas Cowboys legend Jimmy Johnson.

The Cowboys organization is bringing to end a long-standing injustice within the organization by finally inducting the two-time Super Bowl winning coach into the team’s Ring of Honor at halftime of Saturday’s primetime game against the Lions, a moment in history that Campbell, a Texas kid, is not taking lightly.

“I think he’s one of these rare, special coaches, you know? I just think it’s, to me, it’s like an honor that we get to go out there, 'cause that’s what I think of,” Campbell said. “Obviously, our team has a  chance to get a win, but (also) do something he’d be proud of.

“He could watch us play and be like, ‘Man, I like that style. I approve of that.’ So I think that’s pretty cool.”

Johnson, who turned 80 in April, had a coaching career spanning from 1965, in his first appointment as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech, to 1999, when he was head coach for the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson is most well-known for his time with the Cowboys (1989-93), where he won two Super Bowls, which directly followed his national championship-winning tenure with the NCAA’s Miami Hurricanes. Johnson is a member of both the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fames.

“I’m a huge Jimmy Johnson fan. Obviously grew up in Texas when he had the Triplets (Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman) winning Super Bowls, and to do everything that he was able to do and be somebody that I’ve studied from afar, I’ve always been just been fascinated with him.

“His style, the way he coached, I think he’s special.”

Campbell, whose hometown of Clifton is about 90 minutes southwest of Dallas, was a teenager for a majority of Dallas’ dynasty. He attended Glen Rose High School and later played his college ball at Texas A&M. Campbell played tight end for the Cowboys from 2003-05. Tuesday wasn't the first time he showed an affinity for a Cowboys coaching legend.

Back in November, Campbell spoke glowingly about the time he got the chance to meet Tom Landry, who led the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories in the 1970s.

"When you grow up in Texas, I mean, Tom Landry ... he's a legend, obviously," Campbell said. "I met him when I was — shoot, man, I think I was an eighth grader. ... That was pretty cool."

Asked if he took offense to the Cowboys scheduling the Ring of Honor ceremony, Campbell said, “No, that’s awesome. I feel like that was for us.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi

Lions at Cowboys

▶ Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., Saturday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

▶ TV/radio: ESPN/ABC/97.1

▶ Records: Detroit (11-4), Dallas (10-5)

▶ Line: Cowboys by 6