Given the stiff competition at the top of the NFC standings, the 9-4 Cowboys are still a long way from securing a playoff berth. However, VP Stephen Jones believes the club has seen enough from head coach Jason Garrett this season to be happy moving forward with him in 2015 and beyond, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
“I think Jason has grown leaps and bounds,” Jones said during a radio appearance on The Ticket in Dallas. “We are so comfortable – you know, comfortable can be a bad word, you want to be on edge too – but I really think Jason is the right guy for this job. … I know Jerry thinks the same thing. I certainly see Jason being a big part of our future.”
Although he acknowledged that there’s a “a lot of ball left to be played,” Jones indicated that he believes it’s in the Cowboys’ best interests to lock up Garrett to another contract once this season concludes. Since Garrett wasn’t extended before entering the final year of his deal, there was speculation that he would be fired if the team didn’t improve on its seemingly-perpetual 8-8 record. With three games left in the season, Dallas has already exceeded Garrett’s previous career high of eight wins, despite entering the year projected by many pundits to finish below .500.
A loss this week in Philadelphia would significantly derail the Cowboys’ postseason chances, but with a home game against the Colts and a road game in Washington still on the slate, Garrett’s club looks like a good bet to finish with at least 10 or 11 victories. Even without a playoff berth, that would likely be enough to earn the head coach a new contract.
Jason Garrett will be the head coach and general manager of an NFC South team next year.