The New York Giants are continuing to fill out their coaching staff this week. The team’s new head coach has already hired his three main coordinators. New York is retaining Thomas McGaughey as special teams coordinator. Patrick Graham will be the team’s defensive coordinator in 2020 after holding that same position with the Miami Dolphins in 2019. However, the Giants’ most interesting hire came at offensive coordinator.
Jason Garrett, former Dallas Cowboys head coach, has agreed to join Joe Judge’s staff as the Giants’ offensive coordinator. Garrett was an offensive coordinator for the Cowboys before being promoted to head coach in 2011. The Cowboys had numerous top-ten offenses under Garrett as both head coach and coordinator.
Many have speculated that Garrett will be bringing some colleagues to New York with him. Bill Callahan is someone the Giants are considering for their vacant offensive line coach position. Now, a new and utterly unexpected name has entered the discussions. Chris Mortensen of ESPN has reported that Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is considering reuniting with Jason Garret in New York.
A Player Or A Coach?
Mortenson’s report includes the critical detail that Jason Witten “hasn’t ruled out†playing next year. It is possible that Witten’s reunion with Garret would be as a player. However, the Giants have a couple of tight ends on the roster that they are excited about.
Evan Engram and Kaden Smith have both shown flashes of great potential. Engram’s only knock is his injury problems, missing 5 games in 2018 and 8 games in 2019. But his explosive receiving ability is bound to keep him around.
Kaden Smith was an unknown name heading into 2019 but quietly made his presence known by season’s end. Smith started in 6 games for the Giants and caught 31 passes for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns. Smith is also a great run-blocker, though, he does not possess Engram’s athletic prowess.
With two talented tight ends already on the roster, it is hard to see where Jason Witten could fit into the equation as a player. However, a coaching role might make much sense for the veteran tight end.
Mike McCarthy, the Dallas Cowboys’ newly hired head coach, had “no on-field coaching spot” on his staff for Jason Witten (Mortenson). This report indicates that Witten was initially looking for a coaching job, but is open to playing if he cannot find one. Witten’s familiarity with Garrett and the Giants’ talented but young tight ends group could make Jason Witten a good fit as New York’s tight ends coach.
Jason Witten is a 37-year-old tight end that has already retired once. He came out of retirement for one last go with the Cowboys this past season, but the team seems ready to move on. Witten’s time in the broadcast booth was not much of a smashing success either. Maybe coaching is the best possible option for the future Hall of Fame candidate.