Garrett Hired By Cowboys

[NT03]

Updated: Jan. 24, 2007, 10:32 PM ET

Source: Cowboys pick Garrett, but role is undecided

ESPN.com news services

According to knowledgeable sources, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has decided to hire Jason Garrett at least to be Dallas' offensive coordinator -- and possibly to be the successor to retired head coach Bill Parcells.

Garrett

A source told ESPN's Ed Werder on Wednesday night that Jones considers Garrett -- a former backup to quarterback Troy Aikman -- to be one of the most promising offensive coaches in the league and was so determined to bring him back to the Cowboys organization that he would have been added to Parcells' staff had Parcells decided to coach the final year of his contract.

Instead, Parcells stepped down Monday after four seasons with the Cowboys, ending a 19-year coaching tenure that included two Super Bowl champoinships with the New York Giants.

Jones must decide by Thursday whether to hire Garrett as offensive coordinator because the Miami Dolphins set a deadline for the Cowboys to hire their quarterbacks coach when granting the Cowboys permission to interview Garrett.

The Cowboys could appoint Garrett offensive coordinator to secure his services while eliminating the Dolphins from the equation. Then Jones could deliberate whether to appoint him as the head coach later after interviews with other head-coaching candidates, primarily San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips or San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

Ultimately, Jones must decide whether he's willing to sign a veteran coach to a three- or four-year contract to allow Garrett to gain experience as a play-caller before eventually promoting him to the top job. Or, Jones may decide he's willing to endure the risk of immediately putting a talented Cowboys team in Garrett's hands now.

Garrett spent the last two seasons coaching Miami's quarterbacks. He played for the Cowboys from 1993-99, appearing in 23 games (nine starts). He also played for the Giants, Tampa Bay and Miami. Garrett retired in 2004.

Garrett's father, Jim, was a longtime scout for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys haven't had an offensive coordinator since Maruice Carthon served in that role under Parcells in 2004. This season, assistant head coach Tony Sparano coached running backs and the offensive line and receivers coach Todd Haley was the passing game coordinator.

Jones earlier this week spoke to Sparano, Haley and secondary coach Todd Bowles, a candidate to replace Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator, about the head coaching job.

Phillips, who was in Mobile scouting Senior Bowl practices, said he hadn't heard from anybody yet, including the Cowboys.

"If it's true, we'll just go on with the process and see what happens," Phillips told The Associated Press by telephone. "I've got a great job where I am and a great football team. I wasn't looking for anything, but I've always wanted to do what I can do as a head coach, and Dallas is certainly a premier job."

The Cowboys have declared that finding the coaches who can develop young Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo is a point of emphasis in replacing Parcells.

Information from ESPN's Ed Werder and The Associated Press was used in this report.

[JayDub]

GINGER KIDS!

[Rudy]

Garrett is a smart guy, but I'm not so sure he's ready to be head coach yet.

[NT03]

Garrett is a smart guy, but I'm not so sure he's ready to be head coach yet.

Agree , but I think Garrett is a rare breed ( young, ready coach ) much like Avery Johnson and he's not doing too shabby.

I could see Jerry hiring an older, experienced coach ( someone like a Siefert, Phillips, etc. ) for 1-3 years so they could mold Garrett as the future , long term head coach of the Boys.

Edited January 25, 2007 by NT03

[Rudy]

Agree , but I think Garrett is a rare breed ( young, ready coach ) much like Avery Johnson and he's not doing too shaby.

That could very well be true. You just dont know at this point.

[Starchild0224]

Hiring a coach to groom an assistant usually ends up as a disaster. I say go ahead and make him head coach. I'm sick of all the re-treads out there who get chance after chance, but don't win.