Dallas Cowboys part ways with Jason Garrett; New era begins

As expected, the Dallas Cowboys have reportedly decided to move on from longtime head coach Jason Garrett ushering in a new era for America’s Team.

On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys ended their season the same way they did when head coach Jason Garrett officially took the reins of America’s Team back in 2011 … with an 8-8 record. The Cowboys were able to blow out the lowly Washington Redskins on Sunday to the tune of 47-16. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to recover from their previous Week 16 blunder.

The Cowboys lost to the Philadelphia Eagles the previous Sunday, losing their lead in the worst division in the NFL, the NFC East. In order for Dallas to obtain the divisional crown for the second season in a row, the Cowboys needed a victory over the Redskins and the New York Giants to beat the Eagles in Week 17. But the G-Men fell short, handing the crown to Philly instead.

The Cowboys season is now over. And so is the nearly decade long tenure of their head coach. On Sunday, Jay Glazer reported via Twitter that Dallas has decided to move on from Garrett, whose contract expires January 14.

Garrett was originally a quarterback for the Cowboys from 1993 through 1999, backing up Hall of Fame passer Troy Aikman during that span. After retiring in 2005, he became the quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins under then-head coach Nick Saban.

In 2007, Garrett returned to Dallas to become the Cowboys offensive coordinator. And in 2010, he was promoted to interim head coach, replacing Wade Phillips midseason after the team started 1-7. Garrett would go on to win five of the team’s remaining eight games earning himself the official title of head coach to start the 2011 NFL regular season.

A first-time head coach on any level, Garrett would end his first three seasons with three straight 8-8 records without a playoff berth. It all came together in 2014 when the Cowboys posted a 12-4 record and won a playoff game against the Detroit Lions. That season earned Garrett a five-year, $30 million contract extension.

Unfortunately, a shoulder injury suffered by then-starting quarterback Tony Romo sank the 2015 season, ending that year with an inverse 4-12 record. But that down season allowed the Cowboys to land future starters like running back Ezekiel Elliott, quarterback Dak Prescott, and linebacker Jaylon Smith.

That injection of youth propelled the 2016 Cowboys to a 13-3 record and a first-round bye in the playoffs. But this new group under Garrett would lose in the divisional round to the Green Bay Packers. Dallas would post a 9-7 record the following season but didn’t make the playoffs.

A midseason trade for Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper would change the fortune of the 2018 regular season after Dallas started the year losing five of their first eight games. A five-game winning streak would propel the team to a 10-6 record and a yet another playoff loss in the divisional round, this time to the upstart Los Angeles Rams.

That takes us to this season. The 8-8 Cowboys played like a shell of their previous selves as a whole. Despite possessing the league’s top offense, averaging 431.5 yards per game, those numbers proved to be hollow as Dallas ultimately only beat two teams that posted a .500 record or better all year. And finally, Garrett has paid the price for the team’s mediocrity and his lack of postseason success.

The Dallas Cowboys will now begin the search for their next head coach to led the team into a new era. The roster is certainly stocked with talent, yet need a new direction. Who will lead America’s Team in 2020 and beyond has been and will continue to be a hotly-debated topic in the coming weeks. Stay tuned …