It’s safe to say that Jason Garrett knows a thing or two about Jerry Jones. In 10 years with the Dallas Cowboys, Garrett got to know the owner and boss of America’s Team quite well. So when the former head coach dares to predict the future of the team, the best thing Mike McCarthy can do is listen.
Garrett is nothing less than the second most successful coach in franchise history. With 85 wins and 67 losses, he is only behind the legendary Tom Landry, who had a record of 250-162-6. Although he never made it to a Super Bowl, the former Cowboys coach left fans with very fond memories.
His departure from the team in 2019 was kind of amicable, but it still caused some strangeness among fans. After three consecutive winning seasons, Garrett led the team to a modest 8-8 record that year, and Jones decided not to renew his contract, leaving his place to McCarthy. Five years later, history is about to repeat itself.
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The unpredictable Jerry Jones
Speaking to SNF on NBC, Garrett offered a glimpse of McCarthy’s possible future, saying, “I don’t think Jerry Jones has made up his mind yet. I think he’s going to evaluate these last three games and make a decision from there.”
Regarding this, Garrett explained, “There was an assumption coming into this season that McCarthy’s future would be based on playoff success. They’re 6-8, out of the playoffs, and the team has regressed.”
It should be remembered that the first of those three games has already passed, and Dallas beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24, fulfilling part of Garrett’s prediction. “So I see these last three games as critical. If they win three to go 9-8 and end on a strong note, I could see them continuing.”
The warning to McCarthy
Even though the current Cowboys coach has already won his first, that’s no guarantee he’ll be able to keep his job. As Garrett said, “If they lose three against tough opponents and finish 6-11, I think that’s a harder sell to the Dallas Cowboys’ fan base.”
It should also not be forgotten that Garrett left after going 8-8 when seasons were still 16 games long, the equivalent of a 9-8 record today. With McCarthy entering the final year of his contract, it’s easy to see Jones cutting him short, looking to start another rebuild that could now take them to the Super Bowl for real.
