Why Jason Garrett Doesn’t Sound Worried About Getting Fired
The talk around the Dallas Cowboys have circled an all-too-familiar topic regarding head coach Jason Garrett‘s long-term future with the franchise. The Cowboys are once again failing to play up expectations late in the regular season with the possibility of missing the playoffs. It has been a bit different this time, with Garrett appearing to be entirely secure in his position at the helm of the team. There is much more reason for confidence from the 53-year-old regarding his situation in Dallas.
Jerry Jones’ support for Jason Garrett
Over the last few years, a robust outside push has remained for the Cowboys to move in another direction at head coach.
Much of that dismay has come from the team’s continued shortcomings that has seen them make the playoffs just three times under Garrett. Each of those instances has come behind NFC East division titles while holding a 2-3 playoff record and didn’t advance further than the divisional round.
Throughout it all, it has seen team owner Jerry Jones stay firm with his support of Garrett that has, in each instance, silenced the outside noise. Jones has gone that route once again this year as he stated that he believes that his team can still win the Super Bowl this year and firing the former NFL Coach of the Year would give the Cowboys “zero chance” of winning it, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.
“I wouldn’t make a change and give us a chance to do what I want to dream about doing. I wouldn’t do that for love nor money,” Jones said. “It would give us zero chance if we didn’t have [Garrett].”
Garrett may be in the final year of his deal, but it’s clear that Jones has complete faith that he can get the job done.
Jason Garrett focused on the remaining schedule
It might be the most obvious reason, but the Cowboys are still leading the NFC East by one game heading into the final month of the regular season.
Dallas controls its own playoff destiny, which is a luxury to have going into the final few contests. At the same time, there remains a tough schedule ahead against the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins. That requires a tremendous level of focus, which makes pondering his job security a waste of time for Garrett at this point.
On top of that, his future with the franchise could very well be at stake over these last few games of the regular season. It’s also quite evident that his players are still all-in with Michael Bennett’s impassioned speech following the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Buffalo Bills and Dak Prescott, stating earlier this week that nobody on the team is happy about where the Cowboys sit.
Garrett still has a highly committed behind him that has an opportunity to secure a second straight NFC East division title over the next month.
Cowboys’ next task: Beat the Bears
Dallas will begin their final four games of the regular season on Thursday night against the Bears at Soldier Field.
Like the Cowboys, the Bears have had their fair share of ups and downs, but their playoff hopes are bleaker with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings well ahead of them in the standings. They also face an uphill battle in the wildcard picture being two games out of the final spot.
It sets up a Week 14 matchup with both teams competing in a contest with plenty of playoff implications on the line. The Bears have moved in the right direction in the last four games, holding a 3-1 record with their loss on the road against the Rams. The Cowboys enter the contest, with the exact opposite record during that span.
If Garrett is hoping to stay off the proverbial hot seat, that will have to start with a road win over the Bears on Thursday night.
