Florida State is turning to a familiar face to help lead its evolving football front office, with John Garrett expected to step back into the fold in a prominent personnel role.
Garrett, who previously served as FSU’s director of scouting for offense from 2022 to 2023, is set to replace former General Manager of Personnel Darrick Yray, who recently left for a similar position at UCLA. While a formal offer has yet to be made, Garrett is widely expected to take on a leading role in the Seminoles' restructured front office, reporting directly to Vice President and Athletic Director Michael Alford.
Garrett brings a deep well of experience, both on the sidelines and in scouting rooms, with a résumé that spans nearly two decades in the NFL and a wide range of college programs. Most recently, he spent the past year at Duke, managing player personnel under new head coach Manny Diaz-an FSU alum and former graduate assistant himself.
For Florida State, this isn’t just about filling a vacancy-it’s about bringing in someone who understands the program, has built relationships within the coaching staff, and knows how to evaluate talent at a high level. Garrett’s return signals a continued emphasis on blending NFL-caliber evaluation with college recruiting savvy.
Garrett’s football roots run deep. A Danville, Pennsylvania native, he played wide receiver and return specialist at Columbia before transferring to Princeton, where he earned Second Team All-Ivy League honors. He also suited up for the Tigers’ baseball team as an outfielder, showing the kind of multi-sport athleticism that often translates well into the evaluation world.
His coaching career is as diverse as it is extensive. From 2017 to 2021, Garrett served as head coach and offensive coordinator at Lafayette College.
In those five seasons, he coached three All-Americans and helped 35 players earn All-Patriot League honors, with two earning major conference awards. That kind of player development track record speaks volumes about his eye for talent and ability to maximize potential.
Before his stint at Lafayette, Garrett made stops at Richmond (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach), Florida (offensive quality control), Oregon State (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and tight ends coach), and Virginia, where he spent three seasons in multiple roles, including assistant head coach for offense and wide receivers coach.
But Garrett’s college experience is only half the story. His NFL résumé is just as impressive, with nearly 20 years of work across four franchises: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals.
He cut his teeth in Tampa, serving as a pro personnel assistant, college scout, and coaches’ assistant in the early '90s before returning in 2013 as the wide receivers coach. His time in Dallas (2007-12) included a promotion to pass game coordinator and tight ends coach, working under his brother, Jason Garrett, who was the Cowboys’ head coach at the time. That stretch included mentoring tight ends and helping shape one of the league’s more efficient passing attacks during those seasons.
Garrett also spent significant time with the Bengals, working in a variety of roles-wide receivers coach, tight ends coach, offensive assistant, and scout. He held a similar dual-role stint with the Cardinals, coaching quarterbacks and assisting with quality control.
Altogether, Garrett’s career paints the picture of a football lifer-someone who’s seen the game from every angle, whether it’s coaching on Saturdays and Sundays or evaluating talent from the film room. For Florida State, his return offers both continuity and a fresh perspective in a front office that’s clearly aiming to modernize and compete at the highest level.
While his official title is still to be determined, one thing is clear: John Garrett is back in Tallahassee, and he’s bringing a wealth of experience with him.