The Stanford Cardinal are in the midst of a coaching shakeup after new General Manager Andrew Luck removed Troy Taylor as head coach on March 25, 2025, following a disappointing 9-15 record over two seasons. TWSN’s Steve Rivera recently broke down the top candidates to replace Taylor, naming Bengals WR coach Troy Walters, Stanford DC Bobby April III, and Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury as intriguing options—but it’s Jason Garrett who stands out as the most compelling choice to lead Stanford into a new era.
Garrett, a former Dallas Cowboys head coach, is no stranger to the Stanford job. In 2022, he was a finalist alongside Taylor but turned down the role to stay with NBC Sports as a studio analyst, where he currently covers Notre Dame football and NFL games. Back then, Garrett cited his excitement to continue his media work, but the landscape has changed. Andrew Luck’s recent appointment as GM is a game-changer—Luck, a Stanford legend and former NFL star, is widely regarded as one of football’s sharpest minds, with figures like Jon Gruden praising his intellect. For Garrett, the chance to work under Luck could be the best opportunity of his coaching career, potentially turning Stanford into a powerhouse.
Garrett’s coaching resume makes him a strong fit. He led the Cowboys from 2010 to 2019, posting an 85-67 record with three playoff appearances, though he never advanced past the divisional round. After Dallas, he served as the New York Giants’ offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2021 but was fired midseason in 2021 amid a struggling offense. While Garrett has no college coaching experience, his NFL pedigree and leadership skills could translate well to Stanford, especially with Luck’s strategic vision guiding the program. Rivera argues that Garrett’s familiarity with the job—he interviewed for it in 2022—makes this a unique second chance, unlike most coaching searches where a prior rejection might close the door.
However, there are reasons to question whether Garrett will take the job. In 2022, he chose broadcasting over coaching, suggesting he might prefer the lighter workload of media over the grueling demands of college football, which include recruiting and navigating the transfer portal—areas where Stanford has lagged. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiment: some fans are excited, with one user joking they’d love Garrett to leave NBC so they don’t have to hear him call Notre Dame games, while others doubt he’d leave a cushy TV gig for a program that hasn’t made a bowl game since 2018. Kingsbury, another candidate, might be a flashier hire with his offensive expertise, but he’s reportedly happy in Washington and may prefer an NFL return if the Commanders succeed in 2025.
For Stanford, the stakes are high. The program has struggled since David Shaw’s departure in 2022, with Taylor’s tenure failing to restore its past glory. Garrett, at 59, could bring stability and a pro-style approach, but his lack of college experience and the challenges of modern college football—like NIL deals and roster turnover—could be hurdles. If Garrett wants to coach again, Stanford offers a prestigious platform with Luck’s backing, potentially setting him up for a future NFL gig. As of now, no decision has been announced, but with the search underway, Garrett’s name is one to watch—whether he’s ready to trade the broadcast booth for the sideline remains the big question.
