Jason Garrett: From Cowboys Quarterback and Coach to NBC Football Analyst

Jason Garrett has spent much of his adult life around American football. He went from Princeton quarterback to NFL player, longtime Dallas Cowboys coach, and national television analyst. His career now gives viewers a perspective shaped by experience on both sides of the sideline.

Garrett was born on March 28, 1966, in Abington, Pennsylvania. He will be 60 years old in 2026 and remains closely connected to football through broadcasting. He currently works with NBC Sports, including its Notre Dame football coverage.

Garrett is a former NFL quarterback and coach who became best known for leading the Dallas Cowboys. He coached Dallas from 2010 through 2019 after previously playing quarterback for the franchise. In 2026, he continues working as an NBC Sports football analyst, including coverage of Notre Dame games.

Who Is Jason Garrett?

Jason Garrett is an American former football quarterback, coach, and television analyst. His association with the Dallas Cowboys covers both his playing and coaching careers. That unusual path made him familiar to fans across several generations.

His football background began long before his years in Dallas. His father, Jim Garrett, coached and scouted in the NFL. Brothers John and Judd Garrett also built careers connected to football.

That family connection exposed him to coaching concepts from an early age. Still, his own path required years of playing, preparation, and coaching experience. His later television career added another chapter after more than three decades around organized football.

Early Life and Princeton Career

Garrett attended University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio, before playing college football. His college journey included time at Princeton and Columbia before he returned to Princeton. He eventually became one of the Tigers’ notable quarterbacks.

His senior season in 1988 was especially significant. He won the Asa S. Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League Player of the Year. He also served as a team captain during his final season.

Garrett completed 366 of 550 career passes at Princeton for 4,274 yards. His completion rate was 66.5 percent across his college career. He graduated from Princeton in 1989 with a history degree.

NFL Playing Career

Garrett entered professional football as an undrafted player rather than a highly selected prospect. The New Orleans Saints signed him after college, but his professional path included several stops. He also spent time in other professional leagues before establishing himself in Dallas.

His most recognizable playing years came with the Cowboys during the franchise’s successful 1990s run. He mainly worked as a backup quarterback behind Troy Aikman. His role required preparation because a backup could be called into a game with little warning.

Garrett appeared in 40 NFL regular-season games and recorded nine starts. NFL career statistics credit him with 2,042 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He completed 165 of his 294 recorded passing attempts.

His years in Dallas also placed him on three Super Bowl championship teams. He was not the star quarterback of those teams, but backup players still prepared throughout each championship season. That experience later shaped his broader understanding of team operations.

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Becoming a Football Coach

After his playing career ended, Garrett moved toward coaching. He joined the Miami Dolphins as quarterbacks coach in 2005. The position gave him a direct route from studying defenses as a player to teaching quarterbacks professionally.

Dallas brought him back as offensive coordinator in 2007. He later added assistant head coach responsibilities while continuing to oversee the offense. His familiarity with the organization eventually positioned him for a larger role.

The Cowboys changed coaches during the 2010 season after starting 1–7. Garrett became interim head coach and guided Dallas to a 5–3 record during the remaining games. The Cowboys then appointed him as their full-time head coach.

Dallas Cowboys Head Coaching Career

Garrett remained in charge through the 2019 season. Dallas posted an 85–67 regular-season record during his head-coaching tenure. Including playoff games, his overall record was 87–70.

The Cowboys reached the playoffs three times under him. Dallas won the NFC East in 2014, 2016, and 2018. His teams recorded two postseason victories but did not advance to an NFC Championship Game.

The 2016 season became one of the most successful regular seasons of his tenure. Dallas finished 13–3 with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott playing major roles. Garrett received the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award following that season.

His time in Dallas produced periods of strong regular-season football alongside postseason frustration. That combination remains central to discussions about his coaching tenure. It also helps explain why his career still interests Cowboys fans years after he left the position.

New York Giants Coaching Period

Garrett did not leave coaching immediately after his Cowboys tenure ended. The New York Giants hired him as offensive coordinator in 2020. That move kept him in the NFC East, where he had spent years coaching against the Giants.

His stay in New York lasted less than two full seasons. The Giants dismissed him during the 2021 season after continued offensive struggles. He subsequently moved away from NFL coaching and toward television work.

That transition gave him another way to stay involved in the sport. Instead of designing weekly game plans, he began explaining strategy and decisions to television audiences. His experience as both a quarterback and a coach gave him useful context for that work.

What Is Jason Garrett Doing Now?

Garrett works as a football analyst for NBC Sports. NBC lists him as an analyst for Football Night in America and Notre Dame football. He first joined the network’s football coverage in 2022.

His NBC responsibilities have continued into the 2026 college football season. NBC announced him as part of its Notre Dame broadcast team alongside play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks. Caroline Pineda joined the crew as its sideline reporter for 2026.

NBC also described 2026 as his fifth consecutive season calling Notre Dame football. Broadcasting keeps him connected to major college and professional football audiences. It also allows him to explain coaching decisions without carrying the responsibilities of running a team.

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Wife and Personal Life

Garrett is married to Brill Garrett, whom he met while they were connected with Princeton. Public biographical sources have long identified the couple as Dallas residents. They have generally maintained a lower public profile than many sports celebrity couples.

Brill has a notable professional and charitable background. She is a Harvard-trained lawyer who has also been involved in civic and charitable work. She runs Jason Garrett Starfish Charities.

The organization has supported programs for underserved young people. Its activities have included football camps that combine sports instruction with life-skills education. That work reflects the couple’s long-running involvement with community programs.

What Is His Net Worth?

Readers frequently search for an estimated figure, but personal net worth should be treated carefully. Garrett’s complete assets, investments, liabilities, and current NBC compensation are not publicly disclosed. That means no outside website can independently verify his exact wealth.

Celebrity finance websites have published estimates, including figures around $18 million. View these numbers as third-party estimates, not confirmed financial disclosures. His earnings have come from a long NFL playing career, coaching contracts, and broadcasting work.

This distinction matters because online net-worth figures can appear more precise than the underlying evidence supports. Publicly reported salaries can help explain earning potential but cannot establish someone’s current wealth. Readers interested in how sports earnings break down may also find MagazineXu’s Kyle Busch net worth analysis useful.

Why His Football Career Is Unusual

Few football careers move through as many distinct roles as Garrett’s. He has experienced the sport as a college star, NFL backup, offensive coordinator, head coach, and television analyst. Each job required a different view of the same game.

His Dallas connection makes the story more distinctive. He first wore a Cowboys uniform during the team’s championship era and later returned to coach the franchise. He eventually held its top coaching position for almost a decade.

That history adds context to his broadcasting career. Viewers hear analysis from someone who prepared as a quarterback and called plays as a coach. They are also hearing from a former head coach familiar with the pressure surrounding major NFL decisions.

Career Timeline

• 1966: Born in Abington, Pennsylvania.
• 1988: Won the Bushnell Cup as Ivy League Player of the Year.
• 1989: Graduated from Princeton with a history degree.
• 1990s: Established himself as an NFL backup quarterback.
• 1993–1999: Played for the Dallas Cowboys.
• 2005–2006: Worked as the Miami Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach.
• 2007: Became Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator.
• 2010: Took over as Cowboys interim head coach.
• 2011–2019: Served as Dallas’ full-time head coach.
• 2016: Led Dallas to a 13–3 record and received NFL Coach of the Year honors.
• 2020–2021: Worked as New York Giants offensive coordinator.
• 2022: Joined NBC Sports as a football analyst.
• 2026: Continues calling Notre Dame football for NBC Sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Jason Garrett?

He was born on March 28, 1966. That makes him 60 years old in 2026. His birthplace is Abington, Pennsylvania.

Did Garrett play in the NFL?

Yes, he played quarterback professionally and spent his most recognizable years with Dallas. NFL statistics list 40 regular-season appearances and nine starts. He finished with 2,042 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes.

How many Super Bowls did he win?

He was a member of three Cowboys teams that won Super Bowl championships during the 1990s. He primarily served as a backup quarterback during those seasons. His playing career therefore overlapped with one of Dallas’ most successful periods.

What was his record as Cowboys head coach?

His regular-season head-coaching record in Dallas was 85–67. Including the playoffs, the Cowboys went 87–70 during his tenure. His postseason record was 2–3.

Who is Garrett’s wife?

His wife is Brill Garrett, a Princeton graduate and Harvard-trained lawyer. She has worked in philanthropy and civic leadership. She also runs the couple’s Starfish Charities organization.

Is he coaching now?

No NFL team currently lists him as a coach. His present public role is in sports broadcasting with NBC. He continues working as a football analyst during the 2026 season.