At a Glance

Hometown: Danville, Pennsylvania (born March 2, 1965) College: John was a student and football player at two Ivy League schools. He enrolled at Columbia University in 1983, the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States. In 1985, John decided to transfer to Princeton University. He continued his career as a stand out football player while earning a degree in History in 1988. In 2004, John spent time in the collegiate coaching ranks to gain perspective behind legendary football coach Al Groh. He spent two years coaching wide receivers for the Cavaliers. During his third and final season, John was responsible for leading The University of Virginia football team as Groh’s assistant head coach. NFL Experience: After an outstanding Ivy League career, John tested his talent in the NFL. He spent time in the Dallas Cowboys training camp in 1988, before earning his first NFL roster spot with the 1989 Cincinnati Bengals as a wide receiver. The following year John was a practice squad member for the Buffalo Bills. After serving time with the Bills, John would join the organization where he would meet his future wife. The San Antonio Rough Riders, a team from the newly found and NFL supported World League of American Football (WLAF), drafted John in 1991.After John’s playing career, his first opportunity with an NFL franchise came as a personnel/ coaching assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He went on to become an offensive assistant for the Cincinnati Bengals, regularly working with the wide receiver unit. In 1999, John joined the Arizona Cardinals as the club’s quarterbacks coach. He helped develop Jake Plummer, a two time Pro Bowl alternate. In 2001, Plummer had his best season to that point. The results from John’s coaching techniques had taken shape. After two seasons in Arizona, John rejoined the Cincinnati Bengals where he gained more experience as a scout and offensive assistant. He worked on both sides of NFL franchises for twelve years, gaining a wealth of knowledge in coaching and scouting. Through the years, John’s work ethic and leadership proved worthy of earning a role in The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff. In Dallas, Garrett’s success stemmed from developing consistent depth and impressive talent at the tight end position. His fined tuned teaching methods are proved through his players’ record production. Many have come to know John as the leader for one of the elite offensive units in the NFL, year in and year out.

Bio

Family Bio: Back in 1991, when Dallas Cowboys’ Tight Ends Coach John Garrett was drafted to play wide receiver for the San Antonio Rough Riders of the World League, he went to KSAT-TV for an interview to promote the new league. While John waited in the green room to go on the air, a weekend sports producer, the then Honor Jones, entered to check if John was ready. “When I first saw her,” said John, “I can’t say we would marry, but I knew we would see each other.” John and Honor started dating soon after the San Antonio Riders first training camp and John proposed to Honor one year later where they first met…in the green room of KSAT-TV. A miraculous chance meeting has grown into 15 wonderful years of marriage.Two years after marrying Honor, while witnessing the birth of their first child John Jr., John realized that God is still in the miracle business. He also began to accept the awesome responsibility of being a father – knowing that he needed to embrace the challenge and passionately enjoy rearing this child. Over the coming years, John and Honor were blessed with three more children, Honor, Olivia and Caroline.They are raising their children with Christian values and biblical teaching. And they are always looking for teaching moments and asking their kids: “How could you have acted differently?” or “What is the kind thing to do?”Some of John’s favorite memories growing up as one of eight children happened around the dinner table. And he is trying to pass that tradition on to his family. “It’s important to be together as a family and what better way to do it then to have dinner together. We get caught up with each other’s lives and get to know each other better.” Caroline, the youngest daughter, once announced at dinner, “We are going to go around the table and everyone is going to tell us their favorite color, animal and food.” It led to some great conversation.To make sure he and Honor stay connected, they like to go on dates to show their children that the relationship with your spouse is the most important one on this earth. On a car ride home after a recent season-ending loss for the Cowboys, John Jr. was in the back seat sitting quietly. When dad asked him if he was upset that they weren’t going to the Super Bowl, he slowly looked up and said, “Dad, does this mean we’ll have more time to play ball in the back yard?” When John said yes, his son’s face lit up. Super Bowls are wonderful. But there is no more important pass pattern than a football thrown by a father to his children in their backyard.Football has always been a part of the Garrett family household. If one were to unwind the knowledge of the game they love, it would probably stretch across several football fields. John’s father, Jim Garrett II, played professional football and spent 38 years as a scout and assistant coach in the NFL. Twenty-one of those years were spent as a member of the Dallas Cowboys scouting staff from 1987-2004. The rest were spent as an assistant coach for various organizations: New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans of the World Football League. He also served at Columbia University as the head coach for the football team in 1985. Jim and his wife Jane had eight children, four daughters: Jane, Jennifer, Janine, Jill. The four boys followed their dad into the football business. John’s oldest brother, Jim Garrett III, is an English teacher and former football coach at University School in Hunting Valley. Jim III taught and coached football for 25 years, at the very same high school all the Garrett brothers attended. John’s younger brother Jason, born in 1966, was named the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on January 6, 2011. Jason enjoyed an 11 year career as a back-up quarterback in the NFL, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He learned and led behind Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman from 1993-1999. He also played with the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins. He was a member of three Super Bowl teams and experienced six division championships. Jason earned Ivy League Player of the Year in 1988 at Princeton University.Judd Garrett, born in 1967, is the youngest of eight Garrett children. Judd joined his brothers in Dallas in May 2008. Currently, he is the Director of Pro Scouting for the Cowboys. Judd has also served as a tight ends coach for the Saint Louis Rams and an offensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins. He also graduated and played football at Princeton, earning Ivy League Player of the Year in 1989.John, Jason, and Judd were born 27 months apart. Interestingly enough, the three were all coached by their oldest brother during their time in high school. They didn’t split up in college, the brothers were teammates the same year their father was head coach for the Columbia University football team. During John’s last season at Princeton in 1987, the three wound up together again to sport the same jersey. Career Bio: PLAYER: Columbia University (1983-1985), Princeton University (1986-1987), Cincinnati Bengals (1989), Buffalo Bills (1991), San Antonio Riders (World League, 1991)COACH: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992-1994), Cincinnati Bengals (1995-1998), Arizona Cardinals (1999-2000), Cincinnati Bengals (2001-2003), University of Virginia (2004-2006), Dallas Cowboys (2007-Present) Career Highlights: • John helped Jason Witten to his eighth consecutive NFC Pro Bowl in 2011. Witten has more all-star game selections than any other tight end in the history of the Cowboy franchise• In 2008, Garrett applauded Dallas tight end Martellus Bennett for being the third rookie in franchise history to have a touchdown reception in three consecutive games• Accomplishments from John’s players reflect his dedication for teaching football fundamentals. Visible through the 15 receptions caught by Witten against Detroit in 2007, setting a franchise record and tying the NFL single game mark by a tight end• John is responsible for guiding the development of Jake Plummer, who became the fastest Arizona Cardinal quarterback to throw for 10,000 career passing yards in club history

Volunteer: • Featured speaker during the annual ‘NFL Character Camp’ • Volunteers with Fellowship of Christian Athletes• Heralded speaker known for his powerful and moving messages

A Few Players Influenced by John Garrett:

Carl Pickens (Cincinnati Bengals), Chad Ochocinco (Cincinnati Bengals), Jake Plummer (Arizona Cardinals), Anthony Fasano (Dallas Cowboys), Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys), Martellus Bennett (Dallas Cowboys)

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