Reunited and Rejuvenated

When Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt get together for their lunchtime jogs, the topic of conversation is always the same: how to make a run at the Super Bowl.

“We’re talking football,” Wannstedt says. “That’s the way it’s always been.”

Friends for more than 20 years, they have been reunited and rejuvenated. Johnson flirted with retirement in January, and Wannstedt considered taking a year off after being fired as coach of the Chicago Bears. Instead they joined forces, and with the Miami Dolphins’ 1999 season still three months away, the jogging buddies are happy about the direction they’re headed.

“I think Jimmy is feeling as good mentally and as fired up right now as I can remember,” Wannstedt says. “He feels good about things.”

Ditto for Wannstedt. The former Miami Hurricanes assistant is glad to be back in South Florida while he awaits another head coaching opportunity--perhaps as Johnson’s successor with the Dolphins.

“I came here with the idea of doing anything I can to help the Dolphins be successful, knowing that if we have success, there are going to be more opportunities, whether it’s here or somewhere else,” says Wannstedt, 46.

“If it wasn’t for Jimmy and this situation, I probably wouldn’t be coaching this year. I’ve got two years left on my contract in Chicago. I’m not doing this because I have to, but because I want to.”

Wannstedt, who was Johnson’s defensive coordinator with the Hurricanes and the Dallas Cowboys, has settled into a newly created position that has a title--assistant head coach--but no job description. He is Johnson’s confidante, counselor and best friend, assuming whatever duties the boss will delegate.

“We didn’t want to clearly define Dave’s role, because I thought we would handcuff ourselves and him if we pigeonholed him into doing certain things,” Johnson says.

Wannstedt spent six years in Chicago and was NFC coach of the year in 1994 before free agency and front office problems unraveled the Bears’ roster. He received criticism for personnel decisions but departed with his reputation otherwise intact and his confidence unshaken.

“Everywhere I’ve been, we’ve won,” he says. “I know the formula and what it takes to win a championship.”

In Miami, Wannstedt’s focus will be on Xs and Os and crafting game plans. He wants to help upgrade the play-action pass offense, and on defense he’ll work to make the front seven a dominant force. He is impressed by the Dolphins’ team speed and sees many similarities between the Miami system and the offense and defense that produced Super Bowl titles in Dallas.

“There’s a lot of carryover, which makes the transition easy for me,” Wannstedt says.

Johnson is trying to make a transition, too, by leaving more work for his new aide.

When Johnson’s mother died in December, he experienced a widely publicized mid-life crisis that pushed him to the verge of retirement. Instead, Johnson decided he could strike the right balance between his job and personal life if he hired Wannstedt to share some of the workload.

But at the end of the Dolphins’ minicamp this week, it was still unclear how much Johnson will delegate.

“Initially Dave’s role was to handle some of my duties while I spent more time with my family,” Johnson says, cracking a small smile. “But after the first week, with my ego, nothing has changed -- I’m doing the same things I always did.”

If anyone can get Johnson to cut back on his office hours, it’s Wannstedt.

“My being here can keep Jimmy fresh mentally,” Wannstedt says. “I hope we can maximize him to where he doesn’t get tired.

“I think because of our relationship, he doesn’t feel there’s an ulterior motive to what I’m trying to do. I know exactly how he wants to go about things. If I say something, it’s the philosophy Jimmy wants, and he knows he can trust me in all areas.”

The big question is what happens after this season. Those close to Johnson say he doesn’t know whether he’ll keep coaching beyond 1999. Wannstedt, now widely considered the heir apparent, says he came to Miami without any assurances that he’ll eventually take over as head coach.

“We’re just saying, let’s try to maximize everything we can do this year and see what happens after the end of the year,” Wannstedt says. “Time will tell.”

With training camp still seven weeks away, the immediate plans for both coaches include a vacation. They’ll relax together in the Florida Keys, spend some time on Johnson’s boat and take those lunchtime jogs, where they can discuss the road ahead.