Overview
James Wilbur Garrett (June 19, 1930 – February 9, 2018) was an American football figure whose career spanned playing, coaching and scouting. During a professional life that lasted several decades he was variously a collegiate running back, an assistant coach in the National Football League and a long-serving professional scout. More generally he is remembered for his steady presence in multiple roles within the sport of football (player, coach, scout).
Early life and playing career
Garrett was born in Passaic, New Jersey (birthplace) and developed as a football player at the collegiate level. He played college football (college football) as a running back (running back) at Utah State University (Utah State), where he was known for his toughness and football intelligence. His playing days provided the foundation for a long coaching and scouting career.
Coaching career
After leaving the playing field, Garrett moved into coaching and spent most of nearly four decades working in the National Football League (NFL). He served as an assistant coach with several teams through the 1970s and 1980s:
- New York Giants — assistant coach, early 1970s (1970–1973)
- New Orleans Saints — assistant coach, mid 1970s (1976–1977)
- Cleveland Browns — assistant coach, late 1970s to mid 1980s (1978–1984)
As an assistant Garrett worked on player development and position coaching. His experience across multiple franchises gave him a broad perspective on talent and team building.
Scouting and later career
Following his on-field coaching roles, Garrett transitioned to pro scouting. From 1987 to 2004 he was a scout for the Dallas Cowboys (Dallas Cowboys), evaluating college and professional players for one of the NFL’s most prominent organizations. He carried out much of this scouting work while living and working in Dallas (Dallas), Texas (Texas).
Legacy and personal notes
Garrett’s career is often cited as an example of adaptability in professional football: he moved from player to coach to evaluator, contributing to team rosters and helping develop players across generations. He was also the patriarch of a family involved in football coaching and media, and his influence is reflected in the careers of family members who followed him into the sport.
Death
Jim Garrett died in Dallas on February 9, 2018, at the age of 87. The cause of death was reported as bronchitis (bronchitis). His long career in multiple facets of the game left a recognized mark on teams and colleagues across the NFL.
For further biographical details and career statistics consult team histories and professional records (overview) or collegiate archives (college sources).