Dallas Cowboys: Garrett will likely be head coach again in 2019

A high percentage of the fan base won’t be happy about it, but Jason Garrett will probably be back on the Dallas Cowboys sideline again in 2019

A lot of Dallas Cowboys’ fans are sick of the incessant clapping. The robotic, canned answers at press conferences drive you insane. The in-game play calling makes your blood boil. I get it. Jason Garrett has simply worn his welcome out over eight seasons and change as Cowboys’ head coach. And when they looked dead to the world few games ago, I was finally ready to run him out on a rail.

For my part, I’ve always been lenient on him. For anyone who accepts the true hierarchy at The Star, we understand that Garrett’s title is largely ceremonial. He simply doesn’t have the veto power that top tier coaches possess (i.e. the still-baffling decision to bring on a miscreant like Greg Hardy back in 2015). For that reason, it’s been difficult for me to truly hold him responsible for the Cowboys’ misfortunes.

But when Dallas–coming off a bye week–inexplicably lost to the Tennessee Titans back on November 5th to drop to 3-5, the writing certainly appeared to be on the wall. The Cowboys looked woefully unprepared in that game. Furthermore, third-year quarterback Dak Prescott looked less and less like the player who lit up the league in his stellar rookie campaign in 2016. It’s safe to say that the season was on the verge of imploding, if not already lost altogether.

What has followed has been nothing short of remarkable. Back-to-back road wins in Philadelphia and Atlanta pulled them to .500. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, they outlasted a game Washington squad, 31-23, to pull into a tie for first place in the NFC East. If you didn’t watch the game, the final might suggest it was a bit of a laugher. But the Redskins were throwing punches to the final bell, and their defense and backup quarterback Colt McCoy put up quite the fight.

More from Dallas Cowboys

To say the Cowboys’ recent turnaround was unexpected is a grand understatement. No one who follows this team saw it coming. But if we’re giving credit where it’s due, then it’s only fair to attribute their recent success to good coaching and a certain persistence by the players. It’s not always pretty, but they’ve been outclassing some pretty decent teams in the clutch. Almost overnight, they discovered how to win in the fourth quarter, which is what playoff teams do. This is where Garrett’s biggest and best quality comes through. His teams do not quit and they play very hard. Moreover, they have had a knack in recent weeks for making huge plays at the biggest moments.

Of course, this isn’t necessarily music to the ears of the anti-Garrett faction. Their fear is that this late-season push to relevance only secures his position for 2019. By and large, they’re correct. Jerry Jones has no desire to make any changes. If he did, it would’ve happened by now. The fact is that, barring a total collapse down the stretch, Jason Garrett will be back as head coach next year. The built-in excuses are already in place. This is one of the youngest teams in the league. They’re learning how to win right now. The defense, after many years of mediocrity, is on cusp of being great, if not there already.

Next. Dallas Cowboys: Hold up, NFC East race not over. dark

Yes, it’s a weird time to be a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Some of us are openly rooting for their head coach to fail. Yet the same crowd is there every week cheering every win. A stern test awaits on Thursday night when the extraordinary New Orleans Saints come calling. But don’t be surprised if the game is closer than you think. This team’s feeling it right now, and their head coach is much more than a bit player in this ongoing saga.

Published on 11/26/2018 at 14:01 PM
Last updated at 11/26/2018 at 13:35 PM

Home/Dallas Cowboys