OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett spent more than six hours yesterday interviewing for the coaching job of the Baltimore Ravens but left the team’s training facility without filling the vacancy.
The 41-year-old Garrett was the first person to receive a second interview for the job, which became open when owner Steve Bisciotti fired Brian Billick on Dec. 31.
“I had a really productive day today,” Garrett said. “I’m going to continue through this process I’m in right now, and at some point we’ll make some decisions on both sides.”
Garrett met with Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome.
Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said, “We had a good day of interviews. It’s the start of the second round. We have more interviews for the second round later on in the week.”
Neither Garrett nor the Ravens said a contract had been placed on the table, or that the Cowboys had offered a counterproposal.
“It was a great day. I had a chance to start this process last week and was excited to come back and visit again,” Garrett said. “It’s been an exciting time for me to be here.”
Newsome declined comment, and Bisciotti was not available. Newsome will be out of town today, and interview sessions could resume as soon as tomorrow.
Garrett has attracted interest from the Ravens because of his success in Dallas. In his first season as the architect of the Cowboys’ offense, Garrett directed an attack that ranked second in the NFL with 455 points. Quarterback Tony Romo set franchise records with 36 touchdown passes and 4,211 yards passing.
The Ravens, meanwhile, are looking to cure a stagnant offense that this season ranked 22nd in total yardage and was 24th with 17.2 points a game. In nine years under Billick, the Ravens never ranked higher than 14th in total offense.
Dallas was third in total offense this season, averaging 365.7 yards a game. But the Cowboys averaged only 10.5 points in their final four games, including a 21-17 playoff loss to the New York Giants on Sunday that took the luster off Dallas’ 13-3 regular-season record.
Garrett began his second interview with Baltimore on Monday night. He arrived at the team’s training complex yesterday with his wife, Brill, and spent much of the day negotiating a deal.
Garrett has connections to members of the search committee. He and Cass are Princeton graduates. And Garrett’s father, Jim Garrett, coached vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty when Moriarty was with Cleveland.
The Ravens are also interested in Philadelphia secondary coach John Harbaugh, who was a finalist for the UCLA job that went to former Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel.
The Ravens have also interviewed Indianapolis assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell; Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano, who is also a candidate for the Miami opening; former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who’s a strong candidate for the Falcons’ job and is expected to get a second interview with Atlanta; New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer; and Harbaugh.
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