IRVING, Texas — Even if Jason Garrett doesn’t go to the playoffs this year, Jerry Jones says his coach isn’t going anywhere else in 2014.
The Cowboys owner told reporters Thursday Garrett will return to the sidelines no matter if Dallas fails to make the postseason for the fourth time in the coach’s nearly four full seasons at the helm.
“It’s not that for Jason,” Jones said, when asked if Garrett’s job were on the line. “I’m disappointed we don’t have a better record, but he has got us in position to win the division and got a team here I firmly believe has the ability to be one of the better playing teams at the end.”
A former Giants backup quarterback, Garrett went 5-3 in 2010 after replacing the fired Wade Phillips, but missed the playoffs that season and also missed the postseason each of the next two years, finishing 8-8 both times.
The Cowboys are mired in mediocrity again this season, standing just 5-5 heading into Sunday’s important NFC East matchup with the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
But even should the Cowboys lose this weekend and go on to drop the rest of their games, Jones claimed Thursday Garrett would still get the final year of the four-year extension he signed in 2011.
“A lot of this story is to be played out,” Jones told reporters during practice. “It does not have a bearing on whether or not he [Garrett] will be our coach next year. It has no bearing on that.”
Asked specifically if that means Garrett will definitely return in 2014, Jones said: “Yes. Yes.”
That’s in part because Jones, as usual, is confident the Cowboys will break their playoff-appearance drought this season.
“We’re positioned to get in the playoffs,” he said. “We see logically how to get in the playoffs. We have that for all practical purposes in our control. Now, that’s a pretty good spot to be in after 10 games.”
Garrett, a Princeton graduate who also played for Columbia, has been under fire from Cowboys fans for his questionable late-game decisions — he once iced his own kicker, leading to a loss. He even appeared to have his play-calling duties taken away by Jones this season and given to former Jets offensive line coach Bill Callahan.
Garrett took Jones’ comments in stride, perhaps mindful the Dallas owner had vowed never to fire a coach in midseason before doing exactly that to Garrett’s predecessor in 2010.
“I’m just glad we had a good practice today,” Garrett said when asked about the vote of confidence. “I just focus on what I’m doing each and every day to play our best football on Sunday. That’s what my only focus is.”
News of Garrett’s promised return was greeted warmly in the Cowboys’ locker room, with quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant especially vocal in their praise of Jones’ decision.
“Jerry is trying to win games, and Jason puts us in the position to have that opportunity,” Romo said. “He’s doing a great job, and anytime [a vote of confidence] like that happens, it’s just gravy.”
Bryant got emotional when news of Jones’ decision was relayed to him, with the talented but troubled young star saying he considers Garrett more than just a coach.
“Coach Garrett has been great to me since Day 1,” Bryant said. “He always stays on me, because he believes in me. And I thank him for it. I can’t thank him enough, in fact.
“He’s a people person who loves his players, and he’ll do whatever for us,” Bryant added. “I know everyone around the league doesn’t get that, so let’s give it up for Coach Garrett.”