Rex Ryan on Jason Garrett: ‘It better work or it’s adiós’

The Dallas Cowboys have now put a 29-year old in charge of their offense. If it doesn’t work, it’s likely to cost head coach Jason Garrett his job.

On Thursday it was announced that first-year quarterbacks coach Kellen Moore will be promoted to offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Just hours later, and ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that the Cowboys are unlikely to extend the contract of head coach Jason Garrett, whose current deal ends after the 2019 season.

Those two reports appear to be linked. Dallas is taking a chance on a young, unproven offensive coordinator and Garrett’s job may be on the line if the change does not result in a deep playoff run this upcoming season.

Garrett officially took over as the head coach of the Cowboys back in 2011. During his long tenure, Dallas has posted a regular season record of 77 wins, 59 losses, but only two playoff victories. In 2018, Garrett led a turnaround after the team went 3-5 in it’s first eight games.

Following the trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper and the firing of offensive line coach Paul Alexander, Dallas would win nine of their final 11 games including a postseason victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round.

But the offense struggled all season long even with the presence of a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver in Cooper. That resulted in the Cowboys parting ways with long time offensive coordinator Scott Linehan earlier this month.

Now it appears the fate of Garrett in Dallas is tied to the results of this upcoming season. Here’s what former New York Jets’ head coach turned analyst Rex Ryan had to say about the recent changes in Dallas and how this is not setting up well for Garrett in an interview with ESPN.

"” … I saw [Kellen Moore] on the sideline. I thought that was my son calling plays at 24-year old. And it’s like come on, are you kidding me? I don’t get it … it better work our it’s adiós. And to me, Jerry Jones is expecting Super Bowls and things like that … Everybody knows it’s either you hit it or you’re done. And I think that’s the message that Jerry Jones sent, not to just Jason Garrett, but to the entire football team.”"

With a budding future head coach in Kris Richard already on staff, and speculation continuing about New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton possibly helming America’s Team one day; Jason Garrett appears to be on a one-year, prove-it or lose-it deal in Dallas. And if the inexperienced Kellen Moore isn’t unable able to exceed his predecessor’s success with the Cowboys’ offense, Garrett himself could pay the ultimate price.