Jason Garrett spent nine-plus seasons as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He spent considerably less time among the ranks of the unemployed. Garrett has agreed to become the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, as first reported Friday evening by ESPN’s Ed Werder, who cited a source.
Garrett will helm the offense for the Cowboys’ NFC East rivals under newly-hired head coach Joe Judge and oversee the development of quarterback Daniel Jones as well as rising superstar running back Saquon Barkley.
Garrett interviewed with the Giants almost immediately upon the official expiration of his contract with Dallas.
When Jason Garrett left the #Giants building, it appeared Garrett and Joe Judge were on the same page about working together. Garrett wanted to check with his family. A few days later, the Garrett family is in, the #Giants have a new OC and an old friend is back in the NFC East.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2020
Garrett has some history as a player in the Giants organization; he signed with Big Blue in 2000 as a free agent following seven seasons as a Cowboys quarterback. In New York, Garrett was the backup to starter Kerry Collins for his first season, but was soon surpassed on the depth chart by Jesse Palmer and remained a third-stringer for most of the next three seasons with the Giants.
Now Garrett returns to the organization under rookie head coach Judge, most recently the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator in New England.
“Giants co-owner John Mara has said how important it was that the 38-year-old Judge, who has never been a head coach at any level, hire an experienced coach for his staff,” reports Zach Rosenblatt of NJ.com.
Dallas will, of course, square off against their former coach twice per season, with 2020 game dates still to be announced.