Earlier today, before Dallas’ embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills, a report went out that Jerry Jones had no intention of firing Head Coach Jason Garrett during the season regardless of the team’s performance. Jones has not gone back on that statement tonight, even as the team is reeling after dropping to 6-6.
The initial report went out just shortly before kickoff:
#Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones and EVP Stephen Jones plan to allow Jason Garrett to finish the season as the team’s head coach _ no matter what, a high-ranking source familiar with their thinking said Thursday.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 28, 2019
Hours later, even with the sting of the 26-15 loss fresh and causing plenty of emotion, Jerry didn’t back down from his stance on Garrett. If anything, he sounded more resolute than ever.
Jerry Jones is emotional while talking to reporters. Tears in his eyes. “I’m not going to make a coaching change.” Jones said he still believes this team can make a deep playoff run. He said they have zero chance of doing that without Jason Garrett
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 29, 2019
#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, on if Jason Garrett will be back in 2020: “This is not the time.” He added that he still believes this team can make a run.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 29, 2019
Only once in his history as Cowboys owner and general manager has Jerry Jones fired a head coach during the season. That was, of course, in 2010 when he dumped Wade Phillips and allowed Jason Garrett to take over. That Dallas team was 1-7 when Phillips got canned. This one is 6-6 and still in first place in the NFC East, only needing to stay above the Philadelphia Eagles to make the playoffs.
Perhaps even more importantly, the 2010 Cowboys had Garrett waiting in the wings for the head coaching role. It was the job Jerry had seen him in all along; the handpicked guy for the team’s future.
There is no heir apparent on the 2019 coaching staff. Kris Richard may be lucky to find a defensive coordinator job next year after the way things have gone this season, while Kellen Moore is still too inexperienced. There is nobody for Jerry to turn to right now with the hope of making things better.
Jason Garrett may be a dead man walking in Dallas, but it appears his execution won’t come until the last football game. But if the team keeps playing the way they have in recent weeks, Black Monday (December 30th) may be the most you have to wait.
