On Thanksgiving Day 16 years ago, Jason Garrett made his first start for the Dallas Cowboys.
It was 1994, and with Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete sidelined with injury, Garrett stepped into the role and led the Cowboys to a 45-31 comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers--36 of the team’s points coming in the second half. Garrett’s final stat line: 15 for 26 passing for 311 yards and two touchdowns.
Garrett said recently that he doesn’t think of the performance--which has since become a part of Cowboys folklore--often, but that it nonetheless stands out as a special moment for him.
"I don't think about it a lot to be honest with you but what I do think about is it was a very special day," Garrett said, per the Dallas Morning News. "It really was. I think probably more than anything else it was a great reminder of the importance of team. The guys I was fortunate to play with and play for during that time, it was a special group.
“It was a special group. It was the most significant playing time that I had to kind of contribute and be a part of it, and I'll never forget just how much they rallied around this guy who probably wasn't good enough to be honest with you.”
As it was 16 years ago, and as very few of his players were even approaching legal adulthood, Garrett doubts that many of them recall what was likely his most memorable performance as a Cowboys’ player.
"If you just do the math on it, they probably weren't even in kindergarten, a lot of those guys,” he said. “I'm not so sure anybody really remembers that game. Don't break out the film."
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