Cowboys owner Jerry Jones explained last week that he wasn't ready to turn his attention to an extension for coach Jason Garrett. It appears that time is now.
The Cowboys completed a new five-year deal with their coach worth $30 million, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, per a source involved in the negotiations. ESPN's Chris Mortensen first reported the development.
Garrett isn't the only returning coach. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinellireached an agreement on a contract extension, Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the process. Dallas also locked up Scott Linehan to a three-year deal, officially giving him the title of offensive coordinator, Rapoport reported Thursday.
Garrett took over for Wade Phillips as an interim coach in 2010, leading the Cowboys to a 5-3 finish after a 1-7 start. The showing earned Garrett the gig on a full-time basis, but the Cowboys went 8-8 over the next three seasons. Jones opted to let Garrett play out the final year of his contract in 2014, with the obvious implication being that the Cowboys would need to do more for Garrett to return in 2015.
Dallas did just that, posting a 12-4 record en route to the team's first division title since 2008. The Cowboys squeezed past the Lions in the Wild Card round before being upended by the Packersin excruciating fashionon Sunday at Lambeau Field.
It's a rather remarkable personal turnaround from Garrett, who was widely seen as a man on the brink of Big D extinction prior to the start of the season. But the Cowboys exceeded all expectations in 2014, lifting the organization back to relevancy and restoring the job security of its head coach. Change happens fast in the NFL.
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