SAN FRANCISCO – Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is getting ready to wrap up his fourth season as an analyst for NBC Sports at Super Bowl LX.
In January, Garrett interviewed with the Tennessee Titans for their head coaching vacancy, which was filled by Robert Saleh. That begs the question, does Garrett want to return to the sidelines?
"I'm just really living in the present and enjoying what I'm doing," Garrett said when asked if he was finished coaching. "I get a chance to do some college games, I get a chance to back up [Mike] Tirico on some NFL games and then do our stuff on Football Night in America on Sunday nights. Just really enjoy all aspects of it. I love playing, I love coaching, I love everything I've done in football."
As for the team that Garrett coached for nine seasons, he still keeps up because of his profession and the relationships he still holds in the Cowboys organization. When reflecting on the 2025 season, Dallas' #2 overall offense stood out.
"I thought they did some good things," Garrett said. "Obviously, Dak played really well and offensively there's a lot of good things. A lot of resources went to the offensive side of the ball. They have CeeDee Lamb, they have Pickens, they drafted [Tyler Booker] in the first round, so a lot of resources over there and I think they played well. Defensively obviously is where they struggled the most. I just think they're in the process of trying to build something."
One of the biggest catalysts for the Cowboys' success on offense was George Pickens' career season. While some questioned early whether or not Pickens would end up fitting in Dallas' offense, Garrett was confident he would not just because of his own abilities, but because of the quarterback he'd be playing with.
"He's a fantastic player," Garrett said of Pickens. "Somebody asked me when they first got him, 'Do you think this is a good trade?' And I said 'absolutely,' and the biggest reason was Dak Prescott. I was fortunate to be around Dak in the early part of his career, and his ability to connect with different people, and his ability to bring the best out in all of those guys is rare."
"I think that's probably his greatest strength. So when they got Pickens, I know he had some issues for different reasons in Pittsburgh, but I thought it was a good fit for them because Dak knows how to relate to players, all different kinds of players. I knew he would work hard to develop a relationship with Pickens and bring out his best, and that's certainly what happened."
When it comes to the tools needed to build the defense back up, Garrett pointed to the personnel being the most important aspect.
"The personnel decisions are well scrutinized there over the last couple of years," Garrett said. "You have a guy like Micah Parsons, you have DeMarcus Lawrence, you let those guys out. But now there's Kenny Clark there, there's Quinnen Williams, both really good players. New coordinator there now, and I think it's important for them to just make good personnel decisions on that side of the ball and build it the right way. Whether it's in the draft, also through free agency, they have to bolster that side of the ball."
At the helm of it all is Brian Schottenheimer, who is heading into his second season as an NFL head coach in 2026. Garrett has been in Schottenheimer's shoes before, and offered some words of encouragement.
"I have no advice to give him," Garrett said. "I think he's done a good job, tell him to trust his instincts and keep going."
Just before Garrett covers Super Bowl LX, one of his former players is up for an entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tight end Jason Witten, who is the Cowboys' all-time leading receiver. In his mind, there should be no question about his admission to Canton.
"I think he's a slam dunk first-ballot Hall of Famer," Garrett said of Witten. "What is he, [fourth] all-time in receptions in the National Football League? I think those are Hall of Fame credentials… certainly an elite player at his position throughout his time in the NFL and one of the all-time greats."
And although he never coached him, Garrett feels the same way about Cowboys all-time leading tackler Darren Woodson, who is once again a Hall of Fame finalist.
"You go back to those championship teams we had in Dallas in the '90s, ask anybody on those teams who was one of the leaders and one of the biggest difference makers we had. To a man, everybody would say Darren Woodson," Garrett said. "His numbers speak for itself. In a franchise like the Cowboys where they've had so many amazing players… he just did so much… he's a Hall of Famer in my book, and anybody who is ever around him and watches football, I think they would agree with that."
