How a backup quarterback became the longest-tenured Dallas Cowboys coach after Tom Landry
In short: Jason Garrett transitioned from an undrafted NFL journeyman to a prominent head coach, defining a decade of Dallas Cowboys football. His path from Princeton quarterback to the sidelines of the NFL reveals the complex, often volatile nature of professional coaching, where one season can lead to stardom or sudden unemployment.
Born in 1966, Jason Garrett followed a path deeply rooted in football. After a collegiate career at Princeton, where he earned Ivy League Player of the Year honors, he navigated a nomadic playing career that included stints with the New Orleans Saints, San Antonio Riders, and Ottawa Rough Riders. He eventually found a home with the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowls as a backup quarterback to Troy Aikman. His transition to coaching began in 2005 with the Miami Dolphins before he returned to Dallas as an offensive coordinator.
Garrett's tenure as the Cowboys' head coach, which began in 2010, was marked by significant highs and frustrating plateaus. He led the team to an 85–67 regular-season record, including a standout 2016 campaign that earned him NFL Coach of the Year honors. However, his time in Dallas was also defined by three consecutive 8–8 seasons and high-stakes playoff losses, most notably the 2014 Divisional Round defeat against the Green Bay Packers. In 2015, he signed a five-year, $30 million contract, but the team's performance remained inconsistent, leading to his departure in 2020.
Beyond his coaching career, Garrett has navigated the shifting landscape of professional sports media. After a brief stint as the New York Giants' offensive coordinator, he transitioned into broadcasting in 2022. Today, he serves as a color commentator for NBC Sports, covering Notre Dame football and contributing to the network's NFL pregame show, Football Night in America. His journey reflects the reality of the modern NFL, where the transition from the field to the front office—and eventually to the broadcast booth—is a common, yet demanding, evolution for former players.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jason Garrett
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