IRVING, Texas (Jan. 25, 2007) -- The Dallas Cowboys added Jason Garrett to their coaching staff, and said he would remain a candidate to replace retired head coach Bill Parcells.
Garrett, the backup to Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman for two Super Bowl titles in Dallas from 1993-99, was quarterbacks coach in Miami the past two seasons -- his only coaching experience. Garrett also had been in line to become Miami's offensive coordinator for new head coach Cam Cameron.
The Cowboys said Garrett's responsibilities and title won't be determined until the head-coaching search is complete. The most likely scenario, however, is that Garrett will become the offensive coordinator if he's not the head coach.
"The nature and timing of this hire is unique in that we were dealing with a limited window of time in which to talk to Jason about returning to Dallas," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement.
The Dolphins gave Dallas permission to talk to the 40-year-old Garrett, but also told the former quarterback he had to decide by today if he was going to sign a contract extension. That deadline passed with Garrett still in Texas.
"Jason is someone who is held in high regard s a bright offensive mind throughout the NFL," Jones said. "We are grateful to the Dolphins for granting the Cowboys permission to explore this opportunity. Jason will now proceed further in our head coaching search as an in-house candidate."
San Diego defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the former head coach at Denver and Buffalo who also had interim stints in New Orleans and Atlanta, is scheduled to interview Jan. 26 about the head-coaching vacancy.
The Cowboys also plan to talk to San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner, a former head coach, and New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. Both are former Dallas assistants. It wasn't clear when those interviews would take place, but Turner is coaching in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 27.
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