Jason Garrett’s time as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys looks to have run its course. There may be three regular-season games left on the Cowboys 2019 schedule and quite possibly a playoff game, but after that Garrett should find himself unemployed in the not-too-distant future. It’s an ending that has been a long time coming for a lot of Cowboys Nation, but still sad nonetheless.
There was hope that Jason Garrett would become the next Tom Landry for the Dallas Cowboys and and help solidify the head coaching position for years to come. But like Landry, all things come to an end eventually. Now the Cowboys have to wipe the slate clean in order to find their next head coach. But, that’s not what I want to talk about today. Today, I want to take a look at what the future might hold for Jason Garrett.
The Dallas Cowboys have been such a big part of Jason Garrett’s life it’s naturally going to be hard for him to move on. It’s easy to forget he’s spent the better part of two decades, nearly half his lifetime, as a member of the Cowboys in one way or another. As a player (1993-1999) he was part of that 90s Super Bowl Dynasty, earning him two Super Bowl rings. As a coach (2007-present) the results haven’t been as kind.
Other than being named the Assistant Coach of the Year (2007) and NFL Coach of the year (2016), accolades and awards have alluded Jason Garrett during his coaching career in Dallas. He has a slightly above average career coaching record 85-69 (.552), including his 2-3 postseason record. sadly, it’s not quite the outcome we had all hoped from Garrett.
With the NFL being a “what have you done for me lately?” kind profession for both players and coaches, I have a hard time believing Jason Garrett jumping right back into another head-coaching job in the league. Jerry Jones has said Garrett will be coaching in 2020, but he doesn’t really say in what capacity.
Jason Garrett’s initial claim to fame was as an offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins (2005-2006) before taking over the same role with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007. I think becoming an OC for some team around the league is much more likely, but even those jobs are difficult to come by. So where does he go from there?
I’m fairly certain many of you will disagree with me, but I believe Jason Garrett would make an excellent head coach at the collegiate level. I believe his personality and coaching style would fit in nicely for some college program across the country. Who knows? Maybe he will follow in the footsteps of Nick Sabin, who also had a hard time as a head coach in the NFL.
I’m sure most college coaches find the whole recruiting and dealing with boosters tedious/tiresome, but I think that is something Jason Garrett would excel at. Whatever his shortcomings might’ve been as a head coach with the Dallas Cowboys, his personality and character were never in question. It’s those two traits, plus his detailed oriented nature, that could turn him into a really good college coach.
That’s my two cents for what it’s worth. Take it or leave it.
