Report: Former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett emerges as top candidate at Stanford

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has emerged as a top candidate for the open job at Stanford, according to a report from Stewart Mandel on Thursday. Multiple sources reported to the Athletic that Garrett is a finalist for the position, despite never having coached in the collegiate ranks.

The former Princeton quarterback was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2016 with the Cowboys.

Following his playing days, Garrett took his first coaching job in the NFL as quarterbacks assistant coach under Nick Saban at Miami. After receiving an offer for the offensive coordinator job with the Cowboys, he moved up the staff until eventually taking the head job in 2010.

In January of 2020, Jerry Jones announced that Dallas would not renew its contract with Garrett after he accumulated an 85–67 record. Notably, he was 2–3 in the playoffs, with the team never advancing past the divisional round.

After Dallas, Garrett went on to coordinate the offense for the New York Giants. However, that last just two seasons. He was rumored to be in the running for the head coaching job at Duke but the Blue Devils hired Mike Elko.

The David Shaw era at Stanford came to an abrupt end in late November. The program announced following their final game of the season that the longtime leader of the Cardinal is stepping down.

Shaw leaves Stanford after 12 seasons

“Stanford’s Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw announced following Saturday’s game that he will step down from his position, effective immediately,” announced Stanford. “Shaw, a former Stanford football student-athlete and the winningest head coach in program history, leaves with a record of 96-54.

“Shaw was honored with the 2017 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year award and led Stanford to three Pac-12 titles and two Rose Bowl victories in 12 seasons.”

The 50-year old coach added that he believes after over a decade at Stanford, it was “time.”

“After many prayers and multiple discussions with my wife, one phrase keeps coming to me – it’s time,” Shaw said, per Stanford. “There are not sufficient words to describe the love and gratitude I feel for my family, all of my former and current players, my staff, this administration and the entire Stanford family. Thank you all.”

Shaw closed his tenure with a record of 96-54 and success had been harder to come by later in his tenure. The Cardinal haven’t won more than four games in a season over the last four years, including a 3-9 season in 2022.