Former Cowboys HC Jason Garrett named as potential candidate for college head coaching job

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was named this week as a potential candidate for a college head coaching job.

The Athletic listed Garrett as a potential option to replace Mike Elko as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils. 

Elko left Duke this week to become the new head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies. 

The Athletic pointed out that Garrett received some consideration when Duke previously had an opening. 

From The Athletic: Former NFL head coach Jason Garrett got some consideration for the Duke job the last time it opened and the Stanford job last year. He’s a Princeton graduate, and he currently broadcasts Notre Dame games. But he has never coached in college football and would have a lot to catch up on.

Garrett, who currently works for NBC Sports, hasn't coached since his two year stint (2020-2021) as the New York Giants' offensive coordinator. And he's never coached in the college ranks. 

I'd be surprised if this job went to Garrett. And that's for a couple of reasons. For starters, unless Garrett is just desperate to get back into coaching, this probably isn't the gig for him. College football head coaching jobs include a ridiculous amount of duties beyond the football field. Recruiting is the biggest part of the job -- and that's a year round deal. NIL deals and the NCAA transfer portal have added to the headache.

College coaches essentially have to continue to recruit their own players even after they've signed. Those duties combined with endless appearances, coach's shows, and fundraising makes the job less about football and more about roster management. 

Similarly, I can't see Duke wanting to hire a coach that has zero experience in that world.

You never say never, but it's hard to see a marriage between Duke and Garrett happening this winter.