If the Cowboys let Jason Garrett go, reports say that the New York Giants could be ready to bring in the head coach but that would be an awful decision.
Despite the success in Dallas, the head coaching merits of Jason Garrett have long been called into question. Even though they currently have the inside track to win the NFC East for the second straight season, there are still many fans calling for his job. And according to a report on Sunday morning, a division rival would then be interested in his services: the New York Giants.
As reported by Ian Rapoport on NFL Network, should the Cowboys move on from Garrett and the Giants move on from current head coach Pat Shurmur, New York would be interested in bringing in the current Dallas sideline patroller. Moreover, Rapoport’s report states that the G-Men would be on the shortlist for Garrett as well.
The Giants may just have two wins this season but the job itself does seem attractive. Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has shown flashes of being a quality NFL quarterback while weapons like Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram are enticing. And with draft capital that could be quite valuable, it stands to reason why Garrett would want the job.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
But if you’re Big Blue, why would they want Garrett, particularly as a follow-up to Shurmur?
Perhaps the biggest criticism of Shurmur in his tenure with the Giants is his overall blandness as a head coach. He’s a veteran in the business but it’s clear that he’s not equipped to succeed in the modern NFL. Would Garrett actually change that, though?
Yes, Garrett has helped to develop Dak Prescott in Dallas and the Cowboys have largely been a successful team throughout his tenure. But at the same time, Garrett’s biggest flaw is his conservative, old-school nature and the general lack of innovation in how he operates. We’ve seen that more in 2019 than before with flashes of new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore shining through and showcasing just how out-of-touch Garrett can be.
In regards to Garrett’s winning coaching record in Dallas, you could make the argument that his teams have succeeded in spite of him. The Cowboys have never been short on talent and, given a competent head coach (which Garrett, despite his flaws, is), they’re going to win games. It can also be said that the head man has capped the potential of these teams as well.
The Giants hiring Garrett would be a lateral move. If you give him a rebuilding roster, one far less talent-laden that the Cowboys’, the results aren’t going to be much different than they are with Shurmur at the helm. It would be a move to ensure that the G-Men are mediocre at best as they add more talent around Jones.
If New York is going to move on from Shurmur, they need to do better than a retread hire like Garrett to replace him. That isn’t to say take a massive risk on an unknown but rather to think forward in how they operate. Maybe that’s not general manager Dave Gettleman’s specialty but it’s what would be best for the franchise.