JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have an almost entirely new defensive coaching staff, as new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen brought in seven fresh faces. Most of these new staff members have some sort of connection with Nielsen.
Garrett's road to being a Jaguars coach began during his time as a defensive lineman at Ole Miss from 2005 to 2007, under D-line coach Ryan Nielsen.
"The important part of that relationship went past the years I played for him into the years of me being a D-line coach and him being one of the best in the country at the position. And me having that resource, I wouldn't be the coach I am without that relationship over the years," Garrett said.
Garrett's coaching career, however, took some time to jump-start. After his playing days, he earned his MBA and became a loan officer at a bank in Southaven, Mississippi.
"I was in line for promotions and things of that nature, and I remember going home to my wife and telling her I want to coach," Garrett said.
Then one day, the opportunity to coach walked right into Garrett's office in the form of a high school principal.
"He comes in and he says, 'Are you Jeremy Garrett that played at Ole Miss? Why are you in banking? Why are you not coaching? We could use your help.' So, I remember going to one summer workout and deciding this is what I want to do. Don't really care what it pays. This is what I want to do," Garrett said.
Since 2010, Garrett climbed the ranks of coaching, getting his first collegiate gig in 2019, and now is going into year three in the NFL.
"I've always been competitive. So, the loans or whatever it was, I wanted to win. I just wanted to be the best at whatever I was doing. So, really wasn't bored in doing it, I just found more purpose in coaching and developing," Garrett said.
Even though Garrett has a strong connection with Ryan Nielsen, he said that head coach Doug Pederson actually called him first about the job. Plus, Garrett says he's really happy to be coaching in the pros because it's the next closest thing to playing in the NFL.