Garrett hired as assistant, could still be head coach

ESPN.com news services

 

The Cowboys have hired Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach Jason Garrett as their offensive coordinator, and he remains a candidate for Dallas' vacant head coaching position, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.

 

A source told ESPN's Ed Werder on Wednesday night that team owner Jerry Jones considers Garrett, a former backup to quarterback Troy Aikman, to be one of the most promising offensive coaches in the league and was so determined to bring him back to the Cowboys organization that he would have been added to Bill Parcells' staff had Parcells decided to coach the final year of his contract.

 

Instead, Parcells stepped down Monday after four seasons with the Cowboys, ending a 19-year coaching tenure that included two Super Bowl champoinships with the New York Giants.

 

In his first public comments since announcing his retirement, Parcells told New York station WFAN on Thursday that Jones has asked him to remain with the organization for another week to help in the transition of a new head coach. That is, assuming Jones hires one within that period.

 

Jones needed to decide by Thursday whether to hire Garrett as offensive coordinator because the Dolphins set a deadline for the Cowboys to hire their quarterbacks coach when granting the Cowboys permission to interview Garrett.

 

It's now up to the Cowboys whether to appoint Garrett as the head coach later after interviews with other head coach candidates. The Cowboys have received permission from the San Francisco 49ers to interview offensive coordinator Norv Turner for the job and permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. Dallas is also interested in talking to San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

 

Garrett spent the last two seasons coaching Miami's quarterbacks. He played for the Cowboys from 1993-99, appearing in 23 games with nine starts. He also played for the Giants, Tampa Bay and Miami. Garrett retired in 2004.

 

Garrett's father, Jim, was a longtime scout for the Cowboys.

 

ESPN NFL reporters Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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:evil :evil Please sign Norv!!!!! Garrett and Turner would get eaten alive by TO.