Jimmy Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboys head coach, knows what it’s like to build a team from the ground up. The Cowboys went 1-15 in his first year as head coach, but three seasons later, they were Super Bowl champions. So, what would he do if he were with the Houston Texans? Houston was horrible in 2020 but had an incredible quarterback in Deshaun Watson. Now, though, Waston wants to be traded. Johnson recently revealed how the Texans can potentially make things right with him by using “Michelob Ultra” and “tropical fish.”

Deshaun Watson requested a trade from the Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson has become one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the NFL since entering the league in 2017. After only playing in seven games due to injury in his rookie year, Watson earned his first of three consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2018. He threw for 4,165 yards, 26 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while also running for 551 yards and five touchdowns. Watson’s play led the Texans to a divisional title and a playoff appearance that year, too.

Watson then continued to play well in 2019. He earned another Pro Bowl selection and led the Texans to the playoffs again. The 2020 season, though, was his best since entering the NFL. The Texans were horrible, as they went 4-12, but Watson threw for an NFL-leading 4,823 yards and career-bests in touchdown passes with 33 and interceptions with seven. He also completed a career-high 70.2% of his passes, while also running for 444 yards.

Despite his incredible play, the Texans haven’t shown him the respect he deserves. This also comes while the team traded his best weapon last offseason in DeAndre Hopkins. Because of this, Watson has requested a trade, per ESPN.

Jimmy Johnson traded a superstar with the Dallas Cowboys

Jimmy Johnson has been in a situation where he has traded a team’s superstar.

Herschel Walker had just run for 1,514 yards and five touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys in 1988. He had also just earned two consecutive Pro Bowl selections. Johnson, though, helped complete a deal that sent Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in 1989. They, in return, received players and picks that ultimately resulted in guys like Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson, according to CBS Sports.

This led to Johnson having a tremendous amount of success with the Cowboys. After going 1-15 and 7-9 in his first two seasons, Dallas went 11-5 and made the playoffs in 1991. Then, in 1992 and 1993, the Cowboys won two consecutive Super Bowl titles. Johnson and the Cowboys parted ways after the 1993 season, and the Cowboys won another title in 1995. That last title, though, was pretty much all because of the deal that Johnson helped make happen.

However, even though Johnson has traded a superstar before, he doesn’t think the Texans should let Watson go.

Jimmy Johnson tells the Texans to use ‘Michelob Ultra’

Jimmy Johnson recently appeared on ESPN’s First Take, and he said exactly how the Texans should try and repair things with Watson.

“If I was [head coach] David Culley, I’d go knock on his door, and I’d say, ‘Deshaun let’s have us a Michelob Ultra,’ and I would talk to him,” Johnson said on the Jan. 29 episode. “I’d do whatever it takes; I’d put my ego aside. I’d say, ‘Hey, the best thing for you is to stay right here,’ make concessions, do whatever it takes — do not lose that player.”

ESPN’s Max Kellerman then brought up the Walker trade to Johnson, and how much the Texans could get in return for Watson, similar to how much the Cowboys received for Walker. Johnson, though, said that the Texans need a talented QB to win games. 

He also recalled what he did to repair things with his own quarterback, Troy Aikman, when he drafted Steve Walsh, but only drafted Walsh to eventually trade him.

“After Walsh was traded, then I go to Troy’s house, and I knock on his door, and he had mentioned he kind of liked tropical fish tanks,” Johnson said. “I said, ‘Hey, listen, have us a cold beverage and let’s spend some time together. Let’s set up your tropical fish tank.’ We went out and spent the entire day together, looking around for tropical fish. I set up a tank in his house — and we bonded.”

Well, there you go. If Watson likes tropical fish, the Texans must look for tropical fish with him. If he likes Michelob Ultra or even margaritas, they must have those margaritas with him.

Jimmy Johnson made things simple for the Houston Texans: do whatever it takes to keep Deshaun Watson.

We’ll see if they take his advice.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference