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Cowboys Jason Garrett Favored to be First NFL Coach Fired

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in NFL Football

Updated Apr 7, 2020 · 5:53 PM PDT

Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys
At 2-3 and coming off a poor overtime loss in Week 5, Dallas Cowboys' Head Coach Jason Garrett could be at risk of being fired. Photo By Keith Allison (Wiki Commons) [CC License]
  • Updated odds released for the First NFL Head Coach to Leave Post
  • Is Cowboys’ coach Jason Garrett worthy of being the favorite?
  • Who’s your best bet to be shown the door first?

The Dallas Cowboys have stumbled out of the gates to a 2-3 record both straight up and ATS.

Cowboys’ head coach Jason Garrett now finds himself firmly in the hot seat, and by “hot seat” we of course mean the new favorite to be the first NFL Head Coach to leave post (be fired or resign).

Odds To Be First NFL Coach to Leave Post

Coach Team Odds
Jason Garrett DAL +250
Dirk Koetter TB +375
Vance Joseph DEN +500
Bill O’Brien HOU +750
Hue Jackson CLE +800
Adam Gase MIA +1500
Dan Quinn ATL +1500
Jay Gruden WAS +1500
Ron Rivera CAR +1500
Todd Bowles NYJ +1500

Garrett’s Coaching Career Has Left Much To Be Desired

Garrett’s coaching resume hasn’t necessarily been bad per say, it just hasn’t been great either.

Garrett took over the role midway through 2010, and finished the season with a 5-3 record. He then had three straight 8-8 years before going 12-4 in 2014. What followed were 4-12, 13-3, and last year’s 9-7 seasons.

His playoff appearances have featured losses in the Divisional Round in both 2014 and 2016, the two years his Cowboys also won the NFC East Division.

Jason Garrett’s Coaching Resume

Career Stats Record
2017 9-7-0
Regular Season 69-56-0
Playoff Appearances 2
Playoff Record 1-2

The Punt That May Cost Garrett His Job

Sunday’s Texas rivalry in Houston found Garrett in overtime tied 16-16, with fourth-and-one on the Texans’ 42 yard line.

Though recently telling a reporter he didn’t know what a “conservative offense” was, he elected to punt and give the ball back to Houston. The Texans went on to kick the winning field goal on the ensuing drive.

Despite his mediocre coaching resume, Garrett is typically owner Jerry Jones’ favorite Yes Man. Yet, this time his boss seemed less than pleased with the coaching decision. “We were being outplayed there, not out-efforted, but we were outplayed,” said Jones. “But it’s time for risk at that particular time. ”

What made the decision even harder to swallow was that by many statistics the odds were in Garrett’s favor of converting that fourth down.

The Cowboys are 18-of-19 in converting on fourth-and-one since drafting Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. Furthermore, Dak Prescott has a perfect 17-of-17 record when attempting to convert a run of two yards or less for a first down or touchdown.

Those stats and an impassioned argument for Garrett’s dismissal in the video above paint a tempting picture for him to receive his walking papers sooner rather than later. Fact is though, Jones has only ever fired a head coach mid-season once in over 30 years.

Who’s the Best Bet to be Fired First?

When we last updated this story the Texans’ Bill O’Brien was the favorite to have his season cut short. With a recent contract extension through 2022 and two straight overtime wins he’s likely bought himself some more time.

Cleveland’s Hue Jackson is always a strong contender. After all, Hue is so used to losing he didn’t even realize he had actually won last week.

But I’m going to look over at the Mile High City where Broncos HC Vance Joseph is plodding along with a 7-14 career coaching record in Denver.

The Broncos’ typically strong defense ranks a dismal 26th in YPG and their passing game ranks only 18th. Despite a career-year last season, new QB Case Keenum has five TDs compared to seven INTs and has failed to throw a TD in 3/5 games.

Joseph simply has not gotten enough out of this team and offers good betting value at +500.

Best Bet: Vance Joseph +500

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