Jason Garrett signs 5-year extension with Cowboys
Jerry Jones has locked down Jason Garrett for the next five years after letting the head coach enter the 2014 season as a lame duck.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Garrett has signed an extension that will make him the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys through the 2019 season, the Cowboys announced Thursday. The five-year deal is worth $30 million.
Offensive play caller Scott Linehan and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli signed three-year deals to remain in Dallas as well. Linehan will take over as the full-time offensive coordinator from Bill Callahan, who has since been hired as the offensive line coach in Washington. Assistant offensive line coach Frank Pollack has been promoted as the Cowboys’ new OL coach.
Garrett led the Cowboys to a 12-4 regular season record and the team's first playoff appearance and win since 2009 when Wade Phillips was head coach. The Cowboys are coming off a loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the Divisional round of the playoffs -- a game that the Cowboys might have won if not for a controversial (though correctly called) overturned reception by Dez Bryant.
Garrett was the Cowboys offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2010 before being named interim head coach during the 2010 season. He was hired as the official head coach for the 2011 season onward. It’s no surprise that the Cowboys have made offense their calling card under Garrett. This past season, the Cowboys finished seventh in the NFL in total offensive yardage, and fifth in points per game.
Garrett had made no secret of his desire to remain with the team. Via the team’s official site:
“I like to think that we’re building something. There’s no question that you do start all over again,” Garrett said. “But whatever the makeup of our team is going to be when we reassemble in the spring is going to be different than it is right now. The 2014 Dallas Cowboys are a unique entity. But I’d like to think that when we get together we’re going to have these cornerstone pieces and we’re going to have these experiences that we’ve had together that we can build on and we can benefit from.”
A big extension for Garrett seemed like an unlikely outcome at the start of the season. OddsShark even posted a prop bet that Garrett would be the first NFL coach fired in 2014, coming off three consecutive 8-8 seasons. Garrett has been criticized in the past for fielding teams that haven't lived up to the expectations of the on-field talent. The 2014 season was a breakthrough in that regard, particularly on the ground where DeMarco Murray had a record season behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Garrett appeared to be a lame duck entering the season with an expiring contract and little outward support from owner Jerry Jones. One playoff win later and the questions have quieted, at least until next season.
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