Giants OC Jason Garrett demands more respect: ‘We say, ‘Good to see you, Coach’
Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett told reporters at Giants camp to call him “coach” as he walked off the podium on Thursday morning.
Garrett said, “good to see you guys” twice as he wrapped up. He said it first as he ducked down to the ground behind a podium to pick something up. He said it again and made eye contact as he stood up.
Multiple reporters said “good to see you.” One said “likewise.” Another called him “Jason” and said “good to see you in person.”
Garrett responded: “Yeah we say, ‘Good to see you, Coach.’ That’s how we do it.”
He didn’t appear to be joking. It was awkward to say the least.
It’s possible Garrett simply didn’t appreciate receiving no response the first time he said “good to see you,” rather than being called Jason. But his duck behind the podium had made a face-to-face response impossible and appeared to prompt many reporters to wait until he stood back up to respond.
Regardless, Garrett’s tone was clearly demanding of a certain level of respect he believed he wasn’t receiving, which made for an uncomfortable moment in Garrett’s first in-person interview since taking over as the Giants’ offensive coordinator in January 2020.
Garrett, 55, is entering his second season as the Giants’ offensive coordinator after nine and a half years as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach.
He would be at least the second football coach this summer to insist on being called “coach,” rather than by his name.
Jackson State University coach Deion Sanders walked out of July’s SWAC media day after being called “Deion” twice.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, by contrast, asked a player specifically to call him “Mike” at a recent practice, according to Kevin Clark of The Ringer.
“Last week at Steelers camp, a player said ‘Mike!,’ calling to a Steelers staffer,” Clark tweeted. “Mike Tomlin turned around. The player explained he was calling for another Mike and would never call Tomlin ‘Mike.’ Tomlin said ‘We are grown men working together, call me Mike whenever you want.”
