Jason Garrett is still coach of the Dallas Cowboys as the long kiss goodbye continues
Despite a report that the Dallas Cowboys have made the decision to part ways with Jason Garrett, he still remains the team’s head coach roughly a week after the end of the 2019 season.
It’s still a matter of “when”, not “if”, on Garrett’s fate.
That has pretty much been a given since the 2019 season ended with Garrett’s Cowboys posting an 8-8 record, the fourth such finish in his nine fulls seasons as coach.
On Thursday night, ESPN reported that it was going to happen “soon” with “Garrett not part of the organization.”
The Cowboys have yet to confirm the report or acknowledge any decision has been made on Garrett’s future.
Garrett is in the final year of a five-year, $30-million contract he signed before the 2015 season and it officially expires Jan 14.
While owner Jerry Jones remains fond of Garrett, who started in the organization as a backup quarterback on the Super Bowl title teams of the 1990s and whose late father was a long-time scout with the team, a contract extension is not in the offing. This is a squad that was built for a deep postseason run, but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs — or even produce a winning record.
Jones has already acknowledged that finishing 8-8 with a team he thought had the talent to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995 was shocking and bitterly disappointing.
The Cowboys finished second in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) and out of the playoffs for the sixth time in nine full seasons under Garrett.
“Very disappointing. This has been a serious disappointment,” Jones said. “Not expected, did not expect it. Planned on being right here in the playoffs. All of the goals that we had, we aren’t getting to pursue.”
Garrett, who took over the job midway through 2010, went 85-67 in 9 1/2 seasons, making the postseason three times with three NFC East titles and winning two playoff games.
While he still remains the Cowboys coach, it’s only a matter of time before they officially move on and begin the search for his successor.
Until then, the long wait continues.
