One of the all-time great Cowboys has retired … again
By Mitch Larson
One of the all-time great members of the Dallas Cowboys is retiring…again. On Wednesday afternoon news broke that tight end Jason Witten will be signing a one-day contract in March to ride off into the sunset as a member of the franchise he called home for the first 16 seasons of his NFL career.
Unlike his last retirement which came following the 2017 season, this one is likely for good. Following a less than stellar 2019 campaign with the Cowboys, Witten hit free agency and while there were some early conversations around his potential return to Dallas, he ultimately chose to play the 2020 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. His final season was a forgettable one as he notched just 69 yards on 13 catches to go along with two touchdowns.
Over the course of his 17-year career, Witten was an 11-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro, and won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012. His 13,046 receiving yards rank 19th in NFL history, while his 1,228 catches are fourth-most all time and the second-most by a tight end.
Additionally, the 271 games he appeared in are also an NFL record for a tight end. From October 2003 until December 2017 Witten appeared in 243 consecutive games (including playoffs), another league record for tight ends.
Not that anyone needs an excuse to re-watch this, but Witten was also on the receiving end of what has gone on to become one of the most famous plays in Dallas Cowboys history:
In 16 seasons as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Witten caught 1,215 passes for 12,977 yards and 72 touchdowns across 255 games. He is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and games played (though long snapper L. P. Ladouceur is right on his heels in games played with 253). He ranks second in franchise history in touchdowns behind former teammate Dez Bryant.
What could be next for the Dallas Cowboys great?
A return to the broadcast booth could be in the cards for Witten, though his first stint with the Monday Night Football crew didn’t leave a particularly strong impression in the minds of most fans. Earlier this month there was speculation that Witten could become the next head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, his alma mater. However, they just hired Josh Heupel to fill that void. Previously, Witten has publically said he would like to coach in the future.
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Whatever Jason Witten decides to pursue next there is no doubt he will be successful at it. For now though, here is hoping he can just take a break. After 17 seasons on the field, one already in the broadcast booth, and a gold jacket from the Hall of Fame not far behind, if anyone’s earned it, he has.