Giants coordinator Jason Garrett talks, but refuses to discuss Cowboys ousting
Garrett, who has since been hired as the New York Giants offensive coordinator, opened with a statement about how prideful he felt about his 10-year tenure as Cowboys coach and the program “we built.”
But he then asked the media to not ask questions about his curious departure from the Cowboys, which included several days of him being in limbo after the regular season ended. Garrett had been lobbying to retain his job during the same period Jones was searching for a new coach.
“This is the first time I’ve really officially spoken to the media since coming to the Giants from the Cowboys,” Garrett said. “I just want to acknowledge my time in Dallas and how grateful I am for that whole experience and everyone in the Cowboys organization for the opportunity and for the support and the lifelong friendships that I’ve made. To the players, the coaches, and the staff members who were with me and made my life way better, I am eternally grateful to them and really appreciative of having them in my life and for that experience.
“Awfully proud of the program that we built and the teams we had. We had a lot of great days there. So again, I’m very grateful for that experience and for the people who made that experience what it was.”
Garrett continued: “This is a new day, and I’m awfully excited about being part of the New York Football Giants and being back in this part of the country with this amazing organization, where I’ve had so many great times in the past.
“With all due respect, I’d love to have the questions that we talk about today be focused on what’s happening here with the Giants rather than in Dallas. Thanks so much guys.”.
Garrett’s official ousting from the Cowboys came a full seven days after the final game of a season in which he finished 8-8, the fourth .500 finish of his tenure, and a day after the team began interviewing eventual replacement Mike McCarthy, the second of two candidates the team vetted for the job.
The Cowboys interviewed Marvin Lewis first and then McCarthy. They had already offered him the job before putting out an official statement about Garrett’s departure.
When pressed again about the timetable of him being fired from the Cowboys and then being hired by the Giants, Garrett stood firm.
“No disrespect, but I don’t want to talk about the past that way,” Garrett said. “Any question you guys have about what we’re doing here with the Giants now, I’m excited to answer.”
Roughly, two weeks after being fired by the Cowboys, Garrett was announced as the offensive coordinator of the Giants. He said he never considered taking time off or waiting for another head coaching job.
“I love coaching football,” Garrett said. “I’m just so fortunate to have been able to play football in the National Football League for 15 years, and now I’ve been coaching since then. I love the game. I love every part about the game, as a player and as a coach. When I had the opportunity to come work for Coach [Joe] Judge and the Giants organization, it was just something my wife and I felt was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I’m really excited to be here. I’m learning, trying to grow as a coach, trying to help contribute to this football team in any way that I can.”
Garrett is a Giant now, but he will always be linked to the Cowboys.
Garrett was a backup quarterback in Dallas for seven of his eight NFL seasons from 1993-99 and was part of two Super Bowl title teams.
He returned as offensive coordinator under Wade Phillips in 2007 and then was promoted to head coach midway through the 2010 season, where he remained until his firing following the 2019 season.
Garrett compiled an 85-67 record as the Cowboys coach with three trips to the playoffs, two playoff wins.
That the Cowboys, who have not been to the Super Bowl since 1995, finished a disappointing 8-8 for the fourth time of his tenure in his final season as coach with his job on the line and championship expectations hanging over his head will remain his lasting legacy.
