It’s time for the backup plan if you are Jason Garrett.
The former Dallas Cowboys coach was considered a favorite to be the next coach of the New York Giants.
Instead, the Giants hired wide receivers coach Joe Judge.
The Giants have requested permission from the Cowboys to interview Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator under new head coach Joe Judge, a source told @WerderEdESPN. pic.twitter.com/6GsGTwoORa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2020
Garrett could still be interviewed to become the next offensive coordinator in New York, but if he wants to remain a head coach, the Cleveland Browns would be his last shot.
Early Years
Jason Garrett attended Princeton University where he began as the team’s starting quarterback.
Garrett then transferred to Columbia University when his father, Jim Garrett, became the head coach in 1985.
When the team went 0-10 in his only season, Garrett transferred back to Princeton, where he became the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1988.
He finished his college career with 4,274 yards passing, 20 touchdowns, and a completion rate of 66.5-percent.
NFL Career
Garrett had a rocky start to his NFL career.
He began as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 1989 but was released in 1990.
He then spent time with the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football and the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.
In 1992, Garrett signed as a free agent by the Cowboys, where his father was a part of the scouting department.
Garrett was a part of the Cowboys from 1993 to 1999 as the team’s backup quarterback.
He won a Super Bowl in 1993 and 1995 and finished his career with 2,042 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Garrett finished his career with stints with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2004.
The Start Of Coaching
In 2005, Nick Saban added Garrett to his staff to be the team’s quarterback coach.
In 2007, Garrett became the next offensive coordinator for the Cowboys and led the team to the second-best offense in the league.
Garrett was a hot commodity from 2007 to 2010.
The Falcons, Ravens, Broncos, and Rams interviewed Garrett for head coaching vacancies.
In 2010, Garrett took over for Wade Phillips as the team’s interim coach after the Cowboys started the season 1-7.
In 2011, Garrett fully took over as the team’s head coach after the Cowboys finished 2010 with a 5-3 record.
A Cowboy’s Whirlwind
Garrett finished his Cowboys coaching career with an 85-67 record and three postseason appearances where he finished 2-3.
After two straight 8-8 seasons, the Cowboys finished as the No. 3 seed after losing a three-way tiebreaker with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
The Cowboys defeated the Lions on Wild Card weekend to set up a game with the Packers.
This game went down as the famous “catch or no catch” by Dez Bryant, which resulted in a loss by the Cowboys.
Garrett won Coach of the Year in 2016 as rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott led the team to a 12-4.
However, the Cowboys were bounced by a last-second field goal by Mason Crosby and the Packers in the playoffs.
In 2018, the Cowboys won the NFC East, defeated the Seahawks in the Wild Card, but fell to the Rams in the divisional round.
After failing to qualify for the playoffs in 2019, the Cowboys told Garrett he would not have his contract renewed.
Main Reason To Interview Garrett
Jason Garrett is considered a player’s coach.
Numerous times throughout this season, Prescott, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and linebacker Sean Lee stood up for him.
Sean Lee on Jason garrett: “Coach Garrett is the best coach I’ve ever been around. We love playing for him.”
— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) November 6, 2012
In terms of football, Garrett has coaching experience that dates back to 2005.
Owner Jimmy Haslam stated that he is looking for a coach with experience in the league, which makes sense why he could give Garrett an interview.
Main Reason To Stay Away
As a head coach, Garrett was mediocre.
The last decade saw the Cowboys win the NFC East three times, qualify for the playoffs three times, record two playoff wins, and no trips to the NFC Championship Game.
As an offensive coach, Garrett disappointed.
It’s not like he didn’t have the parts.
He went through two different franchise quarterbacks with Tony Romo and Dak Prescott.
No to mention, Garrett had the NFL rushing leader three different times in his career.
On the receiving side, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Amari Cooper were big-time play-makers.
The Browns just fired Freddie Kitchens for running a mediocre offense.
Does it really make sense bringing in a duplicate?
NEXT: 5 Things to Know About Eagles DC Jim Schwartz
I actually kind of am for him being head coach. He sounds like he could really run things good. The only issue I have with him as a head coach, is that he didn’t really get the job done. He coached the Cowboys for a long time, and during that time he only has a 2-3 record in the playoffs. I’m interested to see what this Browns organization does with the HC job.
I am unsure at the moment. He did okay with the Cowboys, but never got them to the big game, and right now, we Browns fans really don’t want to have a coach we’re unsure could get us anywhere. We need a coach who can very well get us to the playoffs and then the superbowl. I don’t see Garrett giving us that opportunity.