Jason Garrett is now a free agent

Posted by Mike Florio on January 11, 2015, 4:36 PM EST
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With the Cowboys losing in dramatic fashion on Sunday, some additional drama could be coming.

Coach Jason Garrett’s contract has expired.  He is a free agent.  He can be hired by any other team.

Owner Jerry Jones recently said he intends to keep Garrett.  But other owners can now pursue him.

In 2008, Garrett rebuffed the advances of the Falcons and Ravens, choosing an offensive coordinator position in Dallas along with the chance to eventually become the head coach.  Now that he’s done it for four full seasons and half of 2010 on an interim basis, Garrett has the chance to look around.

Why shouldn’t he?  If nothing else, it’ll force Jones to pay more than he wants to pay.

Vacancies currently exist with the Jets, Bears, Falcons, Raiders, and 49ers.

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81 responses to “Jason Garrett is now a free agent”

  3. Nobody wants him. Team is better when responsibility is taken away from him. Yeah that’s the kinda of head coach every team dreams of. It’s been marinelli, linehan and Callahan.

  6. Dez Bryant had possession of the ball and dove for the end zone for the TD. That play did not end the game for the Cowboys but their percentage to win the game dropped significantly after that play was overturned. On that note congrats to Greenbay, Aaron Rodgers MVP playing on one leg.

    Garrett will be locked up by Monday Night.

  14. Cowboy fans should be extremely pissed if Jones doesn’t do everything he can to keep Garrett. Consistency at the GM and coaching staffs is the best way to get your team into contention and the best way to stay in contention. Changing coaches basically amounts to throwing away at least one season so it’s not something that should be done when your team is a few tweaks or lucky bounces away from getting back to the championship game.

  17. Jason Garrett- claasy!! Not about the refs calls /no calls. We left to many plays out there. (Paraphrase) Detriot coaching staff along with the media and fans should take some lessons.

  20. It took a QB, WR and RB to have their best season just to get over an 8-8 record. Pay them all. Next year when they don’t have pro bowl type years the cowgirls will once again be 8-8.

  21. Really Florio, do you really think the NFL has forgotten about his last few years as Head Coach of the Cowboys and their perennial 8 – 8 record??

    As somebody else said, it wasn’t until his responsibilities were significantly reduced that he had a better season.

    That said, anybody looking for a “yes sir” man/puppet, Jason might be your Coach!

  23. He is nothing but a figure head. A Mustache Pete.

    He has two offensive and two defensive coordinators.

    All Garrett does is give the post game press conferences.

  25. Dallas is a mess. Win and they are the best franchise in football, but since they lost, flaws amplified.

    Romo poor play in the moment.
    Dez’s emotions.
    Doubt Callahan takes a back seat again to Linehan.
    Defense out played their skill.
    Garrett seemingly more of a figurehead than coach.
    Jerry Jones.

    Garrett should make some calls to SF, Atlanta, and NY. Even if he doesn’t take one of them, get more $ out of Jerry so when he does fire him, he’s got a boat load to fall back on.

    Jerry will fire Garrett as soon as people give him too much credit (for Jerry, that means any credit).

  26. As long as he’s not calling the plays, has no power to stop the clock, and stays home the entire year, and whomever hires him locks him in the basement the entire time, he would be a marvelous head coach.

  28. Maybe Jason has enough of JJ. Maybe he thinks Romo is on the decline. Maybe he wants another job.

  31. Jones was seen in the tunnel after the game kissing Garrett in his ear.

    I wonder if that was the kiss of death. Maybe Dopey Jones will bring in Rex Ryan. He’s another blowhard like Jones!!

  35. Let him walk! You can put anyone in his place. What you can’t replace: Linehan, Callahan, and Marinelli.

    Keep the latter 3. The HC can go.

    Scott Linehan, Rich Biccacia or Hue Jackson can replace him.

    Save some $$$ for a change.

  36. Some of you people make me laugh can you realy be that stupid .most head coaches have defense and offense coordinaters and oh my god and a line coach wow. All you people talking smack keep talking. won 12 games with a make shift defense .

  37. There’s 3 former head coaches on their staff right now. Bill Calahan the OC would make sense for the HC replacement if Jerry can’t re sign Garrett.

  38. No reason for Garrett to leave…

    Rich owner that overpay’s – Check
    Top 5 NFL quarterback – Check
    Premier offensive line – Check
    2nd youngest team in the league – Check

    And the list goes on…

  40. enriquez7777 says:
    Jan 11, 2015 4:57 PM
    Great game to watch, we had many opportunities and didn’t capatalize. We had a great year! Go Cowboys!!

    ———————————————–
    Totally AGREE! The 2nd youngest team in the NFL.
    D needs some help but they look headed in the right direction.

  41. Gruden (Jon) built a team in Oakland a tuck rule and a Saragusa missed block away from a couple more super bowl appearances and he couldn’t bail out fast enough. The difference between Al Davis and Jerry Jones is Davis knew football and Jones has a fat girlfriend from New Jersey. I can see anyway that Garret passes this opportunity to get the Hell out

  45. Dallas is the best situation for Garrett. Not sure anyone else would look at him as HC material and JJones wants somebody he can control. I think JMcDaniels winds up in Atlanta, reuniting with former Pats Pioli and Dimitroff.

  47. Atlanta is after Bowles and Quinn. Reports are they have been all along. All that Rex stuff was media and Ryan himself. Blank never called him for second interview and word is Rex got cold feet so he went to buffalo. Good luck bills your defense will be even nastier but your offense sucks as this comes from a FSU fan that watched E.J. cost us games every year he was there. I do wish y’all the best.

  48. He’s the perfect HC for any owner who wants to run the team and have a castrated yes-man cheerleading on the sidelines.

  50. This is laughable

    He first had defensive calls revoked from him and then he had offensive calls revoked him. His duties during a game involved, when to punt, go for a field goal, time outs and challenge a play.

    I think I can do that and Better then him now please let the jets sign him

    Sincerely
    Pats Fan

  51. I heard that basically all Garrett does is to smile, pick up Chris Christie at the airport, and then to make sure all of his coordinators and coaches wake up on time.

  52. Marinelli is already gone, he’s taking DC for ex boss Lovie Smith in Tampa… Callahan is reportedly not re-signing either…Dallas is over the cap…Dez or Murray is gone…Dunbar FA too….look for boys to resign Dunbar on the cheap if he’ll take a hometown discount…

  54. Niners will pursue him. A company man, he won’t alienate the SF owners like his predecessor, and will be seen as a quarterback developer given Romo’s great year.

  55. Dallas is actually in decent position cap=-wise from next year, with almosyt a full third of their roster being freeing agents or guys who can ge cut with no cap impact. They could get as much as 30-40 million under if they needed to. Dez will get his, DeMarco is gone, and we need to sign Suh.

  56. I thought Dez made the catch and controlled it until he lunged forward and the energy of the ball and ground forced the ball up and it was repossessed. Anyone who follows the Cowboys knows that Dez always lunges forward or extends his hand for a 1st down, touch down or more yardage. You can’t do that if you do not have control of the ball.

  57. I wonder how Garrett would do without the owner constantly giving others his job responsibilities?

  58. Too bad Rex Ryan signed with the Bills..with the offense Dallas has Ryan could have done something with that defense.

  59. gfan8611 says: Jan 11, 2015 4:42 PM

    Cowboy fans should be extremely pissed if Jones doesn’t do everything he can to keep Garrett. Consistency at the GM and coaching staffs is the best way to get your team into contention and the best way to stay in contention. Changing coaches basically amounts to throwing away at least one season so it’s not something that should be done when your team is a few tweaks or lucky bounces away from getting back to the championship game.

    _________________________________

    Long time Cowboy fan and I would love to see Garrett go. He has been stripped of almost all of his authority because he couldn’t handle all of the responsibility and it’s pained me to watch him coach these past several years but he didn’t do too bad in these last two playoff games. I’ve said this in another post, Jerry needs to let him go, hire a real HC and stop meddling for at least 3 years.

  60. Jerry didn’t get rich by being stupid; he knows there won’t be a market for Garrett so he can name his price after letting him hang for a while.

  62. chuckleberry1974 says: Jan 11, 2015 5:52 PM

    Dallas is actually in decent position cap=-wise from next year, with almosyt a full third of their roster being freeing agents or guys who can ge cut with no cap impact. They could get as much as 30-40 million under if they needed to. Dez will get his, DeMarco is gone, and we need to sign Suh.

    _____________________________

    Suh? Really? Haven’t we had enough drama from head cases being on the team?

  68. If he has one tiny bit of brain left, he would be packing his bags now…

    The cowgirls are done… won’t be no run next year…

  69. Holmgren and Shanahan are already in Jerry Jones’ waiting room.

    They’re playing canasta with Christie.

  73. I WAS WRONG.
    I NEVER LIKED GARRETT. BUT AFTER WATCHING HIM SPEAK WITH MCCARTHY AND RODGERS AFTER THE GAME, I HAVE DONE A 180,
    AND JASON, YOU ARE A GOOD MAN !!!

  74. Garrett is an intellectual guy but as a fan doesn’t show enough passion for me. High fiving players that just made mistakes is for kindergartners not PROS who make millions.

    Jerry needs a tough minded smart football coach who the players respect and fear.

    Garrett is a players coach and he has had enough talent over the last couple of years to make every playoff but the team is run to complacent and the players rule the roost.

    Not the way to greatness in football !!!

  75. Jason Garrett isn’t even a good head coach. Guy was originally the primary play caller on offense, but now with his duties being stripped and having a great QB, a great running back, a great group of receivers and line, he looks like a genius.

    Only he picked none of those players. The Cowboys wouldn’t miss him if he left, but Jerry wouldn’t do that because he likes idiotic head coaches that he can control.

  76. Garrett Isn’t going anywhere, JJ Needs Him, Marinelli On The Other hand, Is Out, To Tampa Bay. This Season Quieted all the Naysayers ( At Least the ones with common sense) Damn Proud of The Cowboys. Stack up the Defense in the Draft, And free Agency, and They’ll be Unstoppable Next Season.

  77. He is not leaving unless Jerry tells him to… This guy is extremely loyal to Jerry Jones. Jerry let this guy collect a check for years as a backup QB, then he let him play make believe coach for years. Then he let him be the actual coach

  78. Does he actually coach? All I’ve ever noticed him do is clap his hands, high five and slap guys butts. He could be replaced by one of those male cheerleaders they have dressed like cowboys.

  79. Jones is crazy but would be a total fool to bring Garrett back. This is a coach that he had to strip many of his duties from and hire Linehan, Callahan promote Kiffin to Asst HC and make Merinelli the D coordinator to cover up his inability to be a HC. Garrett was nothing more than a motivational speaker. His clock management is still questionable and his message is old. Those players rallied around each other and their coordinators, not Garrett. Since you will likely lose 2 coaches anyway to other teams bring in a real HC that can do what needs to be done. Garrett is a joke.

  80. some of you haters like Scorpio never cease to amaze me. 28 teams would love to have him as a head coach or OC.he lays it down and the team follows what else do you want.? This team has fought hard for him since he took over as interim!!!!

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