On November 8, 2010, Garrett was named as interim head coach of the Cowboys after fourth-year head coach Wade Phillips was fired after a 1–7 start for the 2010 season. On November 14, Garrett won his first game as a head coach, beating the favored New York Giants by a score of 33–20 at New Meadowlands Stadium. The next week, he led the Cowboys to a 35–19 victory over the Detroit Lions, their first home win all season. He finished with a 5–3 record down the stretch. On January 6, 2011, Garrett was officially named the 8th head coach in Cowboys history. He was the first head coach born after the team was founded in 1960, and the first former Cowboys player to hold the post.