As word of the five-time Pro Bowler’s passing from the San Francisco 49ers broke on Thursday, several media sources featured the other Jimmy Johnson’s photo in their pieces.
Among those duped by the strange circumstances was longtime columnist Larry Fitzgerald Sr., the father of 11-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
awful news Jimmy Johnson, 86, a Hall of Famer and former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, also a Fox NFL Studio Host, passed away.
This is comparable to an incident that happened in late December involving former Chicago White Sox great and two-time AL MVP Frank Thomas reacting to a false Fox News report claiming he had passed away.
The former first baseman and designated hitter’s picture and highlights were shown during a “in memoriam” segment on “The Faulkner Focus,” and it was revealed that he passed away in 2023 until a correction was made later.
It was really three-time All-Star and veteran Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/corner infielder Frank Thomas, who passed away in January of last year, and not the 55-year-old Hall of Famer.
Paradoxically, the live Frank Thomas is a well-known figure on Fox Sports, much like the 80-year-old Jimmy Johnson.
Since the year 2000, Johnson has served as an NFL studio commentator on Fox. He won two Super Bowls as the Dallas Cowboys’ coach.
The “Big Hurt” was also employed by Fox Sports; he worked as a studio commentator for “MLB on Fox” from 2014 until 2023, when fellow Hall of Famer Derek Jeter took his place.