Right around this time a year ago, legendary Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten was among the many, many names mentioned as possible candidates to become the head coach of America's Team after Jerry Jones opted to part ways with Mike McCarthy after five seasons, a job that, of course, ultimately went to Brian Schottenheimer, who'd spent the previous two years as the team's offensive coordinator.
Witten, who just weeks after retiring from the NFL in early 2021 accepted the head coaching position at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, and led the team to back-to-back state titles in 2023 and 2024, has never made secret of the fact that one of his long-term goals is to return to the professional level as a head coach.
And on Thursday, the 43-year-old moved one step closer to realizing that dream, as he was named the new tight ends coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, thus reuniting with former Cowboys teammate DeMarco Murray, who has been the program's running backs coach since 2020. Witten will replace Joe Jon Finley, who held the role with the Sooners for the last five seasons, also serving as the team's co-offensive coordinator during the 2024 campaign.
Oklahoma has finalized a deal to hire former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten as its tight ends coach, sources tell @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/TDWylQ4sB3
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 8, 2026
Cowboys legend Jason Witten agrees to become Oklahoma's tight ends coach
While Witten has zero coaching experience at the collegiate level, Oklahoma is getting a guy who obviously knows a thing or two about the tight end position.
After a solid career at the University of Tennessee, Witten was taken by Dallas in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft with the 69th overall selection.
The Washington, D.C. native ultimately played 16 seasons with the Cowboys and ranks first in franchise history in receptions (1,215) and receiving yards (12,977) and second in receiving touchdowns (72), trailing only Dez Bryant (73) in the latter category. Witten earned 11 trips to the Pro Bowl and four total All-Pro selections, receiving First-Team honors in 2007 and 2010 and Second-Team honors in 2008 and 2012.
After spending one final season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, Witten ranks second among all tight ends in NFL history in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046), trailing only Tony Gonzalez (1,325--15,127) in both categories, and sixth in touchdowns (74), sitting behind only Antonio Gates (116), Tony Gonzalez (111), Rob Gronkowski (92), Jimmy Graham (89), and Travis Kelce (82).
In late December, Witten, in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was named as one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Class of 2026, which is set to be announced on February 5 during the NFL Honors ceremony.
So, again, the Sooners are getting one of the best to ever play the position, and don't be surprised if Witten is back in the NFL in a coaching capacity sooner (pun fully intended) rather than later.