Former Dallas Cowboys head coach and current NBC Sports football analyst Jason Garrett has withdrawn from consideration for the head coach opening at Stanford University.
Garrett announced his decision in a tweet.
“Thanks so much to AD Bernard Muir and everyone at Stanford!” Garrett wrote. “While I enjoyed exploring a great opportunity at such a special place, I’m so excited to continue my work at NBC on Football Night in America and with Notre Dame football!”
The former Cowboys boss spent 10 seasons as head coach in Dallas before being let go after an 8-8 2019 season. Since then, he has been the offensive coordinator for the Giants and joined NBC in April to cover the USFL, Notre Dame football, and the NFL as part of the Football Night in America pregame show.
Upon his dismissal in Dallas, owner Jerry Jones expressed his gratitude for Garrett’s commitment to the organization:
“We are extremely grateful to Jason Garrett for his more than 20 years of service to the Dallas Cowboys as a player, assistant coach and head coach. His level of commitment, character, and dedication to this organization has been outstanding at every stage of his career,” Jones said in a statement.
“In his nine full years as a head coach, he guided our team to three division championships while also having them in a position to play for the NFC East title in the last game of the year in four other seasons,” the statement went on.
“His tenure of leadership will be characterized by his ability to produce teams that always played with great effort, emotion and passion, and he represented our organization with great pride, loyalty and respect.”
Garrett was also in consideration for the Duke head coaching position that went to former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko last offseason. He was one of two known finalists for the Stanford job along with Sacramento State head coach Troy Taylor.
Stanford is looking to replace David Shaw, who resigned after 12 seasons at the helm. Throughout his tenure, Stanford won three PAC-12 Championships and gained a reputation as a powerful program, but the team has not experienced the same level of success in recent years. In three of the past four seasons, Stanford has finished under .500 — including a 3-9 mark this year.
Many were surprised by Shaw’s decision, but he said he realized it was the right move.
“A week ago, 10 days ago, I was gung-ho to be the person to lead us there, and over the last few days, I realized it was time. It was time for me to step aside, time for the next group to come in, and hopefully, whoever they hire next wins more games than I do. That would be awesome.”
Garrett stepping aside may mean that Troy Taylor becomes “whoever they hire next.”
Garret wasn’t going to get the job so he pulled out prior to not being offered the position.