The Dallas Cowboys made step one of their expected moves this off-season after quite possibly their most disappointing season in franchise history as they announced that they would be moving on without head coach Jason Garrett Thursday night. The team did not need to officially fire Garrett, as his contract had expired at the end of the regular season, so they just opted not to re-sign him. According to sources close to ESPN, the team treated Garrett with "abundance of care and respect," this after the meeting on Monday and Tuesday between Garrett, Jerry Jones, and Stephen Jones. Although, the three did not have their scheduled meeting on Thursday.
Garrett's contract will officially expire on January 14th, and the Cowboys have been indecisive on their now former coach since before the start of the regular season. The team refused to give Garrett an extension before the year, and they have now finished 8-8 four times during his nine seasons as head coach. Despite a season-finale win over the Washington Redskins, they lost out on their NFC East Division Title to the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat up on the New York Giants.
Their lost on the division title kept them out of the playoffs, which signaled the end of Garrett's run, as he failed to get a team that had Super Bowl aspirations beyond the regular season. Despite his sub-par success, his nine years as the Cowboys head coach gives him the second-longest tenure in franchise history, and he is also the second-winningest coach in Cowboys history. He is only behind Tom Landry in both of those categories, and he finishes with a record of 85-67, but has won just two playoff games and failed to ever get past the divisional round.
The Cowboys will not be able to officially begin their search since Bill Parcells retired after the 2006 season, which led to the hiring of Wade Phillips. Garrett was on Phillip's coaching staff and was promoted after his departure, but this will be a full-blown hiring process. Despite Urban Meyer's name getting thrown around, the names that will be considered include Norv Turner, Mike Singletarty, Todd Bowles, Tony Sparano, Jim Caldwell, and Todd Haley.
Garrett's contract will officially expire on January 14th, and the Cowboys have been indecisive on their now former coach since before the start of the regular season. The team refused to give Garrett an extension before the year, and they have now finished 8-8 four times during his nine seasons as head coach. Despite a season-finale win over the Washington Redskins, they lost out on their NFC East Division Title to the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat up on the New York Giants.
Their lost on the division title kept them out of the playoffs, which signaled the end of Garrett's run, as he failed to get a team that had Super Bowl aspirations beyond the regular season. Despite his sub-par success, his nine years as the Cowboys head coach gives him the second-longest tenure in franchise history, and he is also the second-winningest coach in Cowboys history. He is only behind Tom Landry in both of those categories, and he finishes with a record of 85-67, but has won just two playoff games and failed to ever get past the divisional round.
The Cowboys will not be able to officially begin their search since Bill Parcells retired after the 2006 season, which led to the hiring of Wade Phillips. Garrett was on Phillip's coaching staff and was promoted after his departure, but this will be a full-blown hiring process. Despite Urban Meyer's name getting thrown around, the names that will be considered include Norv Turner, Mike Singletarty, Todd Bowles, Tony Sparano, Jim Caldwell, and Todd Haley.
