IRVING – Jason Garrett so impressed the Cowboys with his interview Wednesday that they are on the verge of hiring the former backup quarterback as a coach, according to a source.
Just what coaching position that is, however, is not clear.
Jason Garrett coaches the quarterbacks in Miami.
Garrett talked with owner/general manager Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones well into the night Wednesday about the offensive coordinator position as well as the head coaching job vacated Monday by Bill Parcells.
Garrett, 40, has been Miami's quarterbacks coach the last two seasons and is considered a fast-rising assistant. The Dolphins granted him permission to speak with the Cowboys late Tuesday but with a hitch: The Cowboys had to make a decision on whether to offer Garrett the offensive coordinator job by today. He has an offer waiting from the Dolphins to return to Cam Cameron's staff. There is no time limit on Garrett possibly being named head coach.
Efforts to reach Garrett were unsuccessful.
While the Cowboys are bringing back Garrett, they also received permission to talk with San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for the head coaching vacancy.
Phillips is scheduled to leave Mobile, Ala., site of the Senior Bowl, today and return to San Diego.
"I'm excited about it," Phillips said of interviewing with the Cowboys. "It can't be a bad thing. We'll see how it goes."
Phillips won't interview today but is expected to interview soon.
Garrett, who played for the Cowboys from 1993 to '99, serving as Troy Aikman's backup, sandwiched meetings with the Joneses around a session with Parcells.
Prior to this season, Saints coach Sean Payton attempted to bring Garrett to New Orleans as offensive coordinator, and Cleveland was denied in its bid to talk with Garrett this season.
"I know he was a student of the game," former Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said of Garrett. "He was a little short in talent, obviously, but he was a great No. 2 quarterback. He beat Green Bay one year I was there. His dad was a super guy, a great scout. The whole family's a class act."
If the Cowboys hire Garrett for the head coaching job, they would be following a recent NFL trend of bringing in young assistants from the pro and college ranks.
In the last week, Pittsburgh hired Mike Tomlin, 34, and Oakland dipped into the college ranks to bring in Southern Cal's Lane Kiffin, who is 31. Last season, the New York Jets hired Eric Mangini, who was 35 at the time.
With the Dolphins, Garrett is well-respected by the quarterbacks. In addition to learning from offensive minds like Norv Turner and Ernie Zampese with the Cowboys, Garrett worked with Payton with the New York Giants and Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay before moving to coaching.
"I'm prejudiced about him," Gruden said. "I think he's a great guy and a great coach."
Garrett's father, Jim, was a long-time scout with the Cowboys, retiring in 2004.
"He's been around," Jim Garrett said from his Monmouth, N.J., home. "He has a wonderful absorbing ability. He takes things in that are the best things from everybody."
Phillips has a 48-39 record as a head coach and reached the playoffs three times. He had a 16-16 record with Denver from 1993-94 and was 29-19 in three seasons in Buffalo (1998-2000). Phillips also served as interim coach with New Orleans (1985) and Atlanta (2003).
He has spent the last three seasons as San Diego's defensive coordinator, running the same 3-4 scheme the Cowboys have used the last two seasons. In 2005, the Chargers finished with the top-ranked run defense. In 2006, they led the NFL with 61 sacks.
On Tuesday, the Cowboys interviewed assistants Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles and Todd Haley for the job. They are signed through 2007, although Arizona is hoping to make Haley its offensive coordinator.
Turner, the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator, said he has not heard from the Cowboys, but head coach Mike Nolan said he would not stand in the way if the Cowboys called on Turner.
"He has a relationship with Jerry," Nolan said. "They were there, he and his wife, for three years, both enjoyed it. Naturally, they have good memories from being there and winning a few Super Bowls."
Staff writers Calvin Watkins and Brian Davis contributed to this report.
WADE PHILLIPS
Age: 60
Current job: Defensive coordinator, San Diego Chargers.
Notable: Owns a 48-39 record as head coach but has yet to win a playoff game ... Served as interim coach in New Orleans (1985), taking over for his father, Bum, and in Atlanta (2003), taking over for Dan Reeves ... In his two full stints as head coach was 45-35 at Denver and Buffalo ... The Bills have not made the playoffs since he left as coach. ... His father was head coach at Houston (1975-1980) and New Orleans (1981-1985).
JASON GARRETT
Age: 40
Current job: Quarterbacks coach, Miami Dolphins
Playing experience: Backup quarterback Cowboys, 1993-99; New York Giants 2000-03, Tampa Bay 2004, Miami 2004.
Notable: Started nine of the 23 games he played with the Cowboys ... Joined the Giants in 2000, mentoring Kerry Collins before moving on to Tampa Bay and Miami in 2004. ... In 12 seasons, he completed 165 of 294 passes for 2,042 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
