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The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team in the NFC East that won’t have a new head coach in 2020. Here’s an update on where things stand in the division.
DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys will not be renewing Jason Garrett’s contract, as expected:
The Cowboys are expected to inform Jason Garrett today that he will not get a new contract, ending his 9.5-year tenure with the club, a source tells @1033fmESPN
— Jean-Jacques Taylor (@JJT_Journalist) December 30, 2019
Garrett was previously the longest tenured head coach in the NFC East after replacing Wade Phillips as the interim boss in 2010. The Cowboys gave him the full-time gig in 2011 and he went 80-64 since then ... in addition to just two playoff wins in five postseason appearances. Garrett wasn’t a flat out terrible coach but he did oversee the Cowboys’ least successful decade in team history.
The Cowboys will clinch the NFC East with a win and an Eagles loss. If they miss the playoffs, the 2010s will be the only decade in franchise history in which they made the playoffs three or fewer times.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 26, 2019
Jerry Jones will be searching for the Cowboys’ ninth coach in franchise history. Early rumors indicate Dallas could turn to the college ranks (Lincoln Reilly? Matt Rhule?). A strong coaching hire by the Cowboys will give the Eagles tough competition as the Birds try to repeat as NFC East champions in 2020.
NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants reportedly fired Pat Shurmur after he went just 9-23 in two years. Gee, who could’ve guessed that wouldn’t work out?
It remains to be seen who the Giants might hire. I’d guess Rhule might end up there given he’s a New York native and he previously spent a year with the organization. There were also rumors about the Giants wanting Garrett, which would be an amazingly dumb hire.
Given what Rhule accomplished at Temple and now Baylor, he might be what the Giants need to turn their team around. Then again, Dave Gettleman’s suspect personnel moves should hinder New York’s upward mobility.
UPDATE: Yesssss! #LongLiveDaveGettleman
#Giants are retaining GM Dave Gettleman. So that gets put to bed.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 30, 2019
WASHINGTON
Washington entered the 2019 season with Jay Gruden leading the way before firing him after five games. Bill Callahan took over as the interim boss but he’s not getting the full-time job. Washington is reportedly hiring former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera.
Rivera’s a decent hire for Washington. The two-time Coach of the Year is 76-63-1 in the regular season and 3-4 in the playoffs with one Super Bowl appearance. He brings some credibility to an organization that desperately lacks that quality. Washington also did well to finally fire Bruce Allen.
But these moves don’t change the fact that Daniel Snyder is one of the worst owners in sports and it’s hard to see them suddenly becoming a functional organization.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
While the rest of the division is working on offseason stuff, the Eagles are preparing to host the Seattle Seahawks in the wild card round of the 2019 NFL playoffs.
Pederson deserves a ton of credit for helping the Eagles bounce back from a 5-7 start to win the NFC East.
Doug Pederson, who has produced the highest winning percentage (.609, 42-27) by a head coach in franchise history (including playoffs), is the first Eagles head coach to lead his team to three straight postseason appearances since Andy Reid from 2008-10.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) December 30, 2019
If the Eagles can beat the Seahawks, Pederson will be the first NFC East head coach to win at least one playoff game in three straight years since Andy Reid last did it from 2002 through 2004.
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The bad news for the Eagles is they could be up against stiffer competition if their division rivals nail these coaching hires. The good news for the Eagles is they have a Super Bowl winning head coach who’s proven to be pretty good at his job.