DALLAS, Texas (KETK) – The Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach for the first time in a decade after Owner Jerry Jones decided to let Jason Garrett’s contract expire. He leaves the team with an 85-67 record in his time with the team.
ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that Garrett, Jones, and Stephen Jones have decided that Garrett will not be part of the Cowboys’ future.
Despite an impressive performance against rival Washington on Sunday, Dallas (8-8) lost control of its postseason fate with a 17-9 loss to the Eagles last week.
“I have no idea,” Garrett said when asked after the game if he would be the coach of the Cowboys for a 10th full season in 2020.
Jones turned aside numerous attempts to offer a timeframe on a decision, essentially saying any of those questions imply that he’s made a decision when perhaps there isn’t even a decision to make.
Garrett’s contract officially expires on January 14. He’s been the coach of “America’s Team” since taking over for Wade Phillips back in November of 2010. He was the second-longest tenured coach in team history, only behind the great Tom Landry.
Before being the team’s head coach, he was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Over the past 9 seasons, Dallas has had its up and down rides.
- 2010: 5-3 (after Garrett took over)
- 2011: 8-8
- 2012: 8-8
- 2013: 8-8
- 2014: 12-4
- 2015: 4-12
- 2016: 13-3
- 2017: 9-7
- 2018: 10-6
- 2019: 8-8
The team has won the division three times during Garrett’s tenure: in 2014, 2016, and 2018. He had just two playoff wins in his nine full seasons with the team.
Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Michael Gallup, while falling 1 yard short of Tony Romo’s club record of 4,903 yards passing in a season.
Dallas could have made the playoffs without a winning record for the third time in franchise history. Instead, the Eagles won the division for the second time in three years by beating the Giants 34-17.
The Cowboys are not the only team in the NFC East looking at shake-up.
The Giants fired head coach Pat Shurmur, after just two years as the head man.
Also, the Washington Redskins have hired Ron Rivera to be its next head coach, just one day after the loss to the Cowboys to end the season. Rivera has served as the head man for the Carolina Panthers for the last 8 seasons.
LEADING UP TO THE DECISION:
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett’s message to his players today centered on giving them advice going forward, I’m told. Told them to keep creating opportunity for themselves and pouring their heart into what they do, and that good things happen to good people.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 30, 2019
Did feel like good bye.
Let me clarify what’s going on the Star in Frisco right now. No one has been fired yet but Jason Garrett informed coaches with expiring contracts that they can start looking for work elsewhere. I was told he normally tries to get them to stay. pic.twitter.com/wIqndQdneC
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) December 30, 2019
#Cowboys coach Jason Garrett met with his players today prior to meeting with owner Jerry Jones. He did not tell them he and the organization were parting ways, but he did thank them for their efforts and called it a privilege to coach them. Garrett well aware of what’s next.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2019
C Travis Frederick on Coach Jason Garrett : pic.twitter.com/38OH8SxPvd
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) December 30, 2019
LOOKING FORWARD
Despite all the turmoil in Dallas, the Cowboys took to Facebook to announce their opponents next year.
Also, the team will have the 17th overall pick in the draft.
The official @NFL 2020 Draft order for the teams whose seasons ended Sunday. pic.twitter.com/PFhUN8wjiU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2019
