JIMMY Johnson returned to Fox NFL Sunday after his two-week absence – with a cheeky greeting from Michael Strahan.
Johnson, 81, looked fresh and ready to go on Week 6’s edition of the football pregame show.
He missed Week 4 and Week 5 with Rob Gronkowski filling his spot on the end of the set.
But Johnson was back with his co-stars Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Michael Strahan this Sunday.
Neither Johnson nor host Menefee revealed the reason for his two-week break from the show.
But Menefee introduced him and said, “Welcome back brother.”
A smiling Johnson told his co-stars, “I’m here in heart and spirit all the time.”
Host Menefee laughed back at Johnson’s words at the beginning of the show.
“Physically some of the time, but in spirit all the time,” Menefee said.
And New York Giants legend Strahan then had a few cheeky words for the former Dallas Cowboys coach.
“Got to have a heart to leave a heart,” Strahan joked.
Johnson won two Super Bowls as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
He saw them collapse to a 47-9 defeat by the Detroit Lions at their AT&T Stadium home on Sunday.
Johnson broke down the game with Tom Brady – who was on the call in Arlington, Texas.
And Brady noted Johnson’s energy and enthusiasm on his return to set.
Brady said, “Before I talk about this game, I want to talk about what I saw in the pregame show.
“What I was most impressed with was Jimmy.
The original Tom Brady
Tom Brady was left lost for words after Terry Bradshaw admitted he used his identity.
Host Curt Menefee drew Brady’s attention to a 1983 newspaper report that a man called Thomas Brady underwent surgery.
That was actually Bradshaw while he was still in his playing days with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bradshaw won four Super Bowls in his 13-year career under center in Pittsburgh.
The former Steelers quarterback explained, “When I checked in they said ‘you’re not going to get checked in under your name because you’ll get hassled, what do you want to go under?’
“I said, ‘Put me under Thomas Brady.’
“That’s how it happened.”
“How are you getting up with hops like that? That was ridiculous.”
Brady was referring to a segment when Johnson and the Fox crew role played as NFL stars.
And he told Long, “Howie you weren’t as fast off the line of scrimmage as I thought when they put you in there to rush the pass.”
“We’ve got to get you in this offseason training program.
“I want to see some more dynamic work like I used to see.”
