'I never really dreamed ... I believed': Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Jimmy Johnson explains the difference

CANTON, Ohio —The traits that made Jimmy Johnson a Pro Football Hall of Fame coach were evident during his enshrinement speech at Tom Benson Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium on Saturday. 

He put his ability to inspire passion and motivate those around him on full display, coaching up the crowd more than talking at them. 

"I never really dreamed," Johnson said. "I was never a dreamer. Dreaming is old. I believed. I really believed."

That approach powered Johnson to a national title in the college ranks with the Miami Hurricanes. 

"People said to me, 'What made you think when you were at Miami that you could take those inner city kids and they were going to get an education? What made you say that you were going to get them a college degree,'" Johnson said. "I believed they would and 90% of them got their college degree. That's what I was proud of."

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It was more of the same that got Johnson through tough times as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. 

"When I was at Dallas they said, 'What makes you think you can win a Super Bowl with a team that just went 1-15?'" Johnson said. "I didn't dream about it. I believed we were going to win a Super Bowl. When you believe something it affects something about how you act, how you deal with people. Your expectations and the expectations you put on them.

"You treat a person as he is, he's going to stay as he is. Treat a person as he could be or should be, and watch him become what he should be or could be."

Johnson's long hours in the office as a head coach in college and the NFL are a matter of record. It was a question asked by former Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga that made him consider the importance of life outside of football.

"He told me not to forget about QTL," Johnson said. "Quality time left. Think about that. I'm 78 years old and I think about QTL all the time. Let me tell you something folks, the people that you love, appreciate those moments because there will come a day when you won't be around to appreciate those moments."

Follow The Repository's Cliff Hickman on Twitter @chickmanREP.