Jason Witten

Christopher Jason Witten (born May 6, 1982) is an American former professional football tight end for 17 seasons, primarily for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).

He currently is the head football coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

In 2000, Witten accepted a scholarship to the University of Tennessee, with the promise from head coach Phillip Fulmer that he would be played at defensive end.

Witten began his first year playing special teams and also saw time as a second-string defensive end.

After injuries impacted the depth at the tight end position, he was moved to the offensive side midway through the season.

Although Witten did not agree with the change and even considered transferring, he eventually came around and was used primarily as a blocker while he learned the position.

He also started in his first two games.

As a freshman, he appeared in 12 games and recorded one reception on the season, which went for 11 yards in a 70–3 victory over Louisiana–Monroe.

Witten appeared in all 13 games as a sophomore, catching 28 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns.

He scored his first collegiate touchdown in a 35–24 victory over Alabama in their annual rivalry game.

Witten had 125 receiving yards and a touchdown in Tennessee's Citrus Bowl victory over Michigan.

Witten's performance in the 45–17 victory marked the third most receiving yards in a bowl game in Tennessee history.

As a junior, Witten had a breakout year, setting school records for a tight end in receptions (39) and receiving yards (493) with five touchdowns, including one of the most memorable receptions in school history, a game-winning touchdown in the sixth overtime against Arkansas.

He received All-SEC (SEC) and Academic All-SEC honors after leading the conference's tight ends in receptions and receiving yards.

He was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Tight End Award.

Even though he decided to enter the NFL Draft after his junior season and had played the position in only 20 games, Witten left ranked third all-time among the school's tight ends with 68 career receptions and fourth all-time with 797 receiving yards.

He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft.

Witten ranks second in all-time career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time.

Witten was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round with the 69th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft.

He was the fifth tight end selected that year.

Although the Cowboys had a first-round grade on Witten, when their turn came in the first and second rounds, they selected cornerback Terrence Newman and Al Johnson based on team needs.

Undrafted free agent Tony Romo was another rookie who also arrived in Dallas in 2003 and would go on to become Witten's teammate throughout their careers, as well as his roommate during future team training camps and travel games.

Entering the league as a 20-year-old rookie, one of the youngest players in the NFL, Witten started seven of the 15 games he played in.

On September 7, he made his NFL debut in a 27–13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, where he had one reception for 13 yards.

Witten suffered a fractured jaw against the Arizona Cardinals, after being hit by Ronald McKinnon and Ray Thompson, which required surgery to have three plates inserted to help the healing.

Following the 2017 college football season, Witten's name was placed on a college football award.

The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award honors a player who shows strong leadership qualities on and off the field.

Initially retiring in 2018, he became a color analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football.

After working as an ESPN color analyst for the 2018 season, Witten returned to the NFL for the 2019 season, reuniting with the Cowboys.

Witten then joined the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2020 season.

Witten afterward retired again but signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Cowboys.

Witten has one cousin, Triston Witten, and two older brothers, Ryan and Shawn.

All were raised in Washington D.C., but attended Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Witten's father, a 6'8", 300 lb. mailman, became addicted to alcohol and drugs when Witten was 6 and became abusive toward Witten's mother, Kim, and Witten's older brothers. When Witten was 11, he moved to Elizabethton to live with his grandparents. His grandfather, Dave Rider, was the coach of the football team where Witten was a two-way player, playing linebacker and tight end.

Witten became a three-year starter playing both linebacker and tight end, while helping his team reach the state semi-finals three times.

As a senior linebacker, he finished the season with 163 tackles (registering a career school record 450), nine sacks, two interceptions, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks.

That year, he received several accolades: All-American, All-State (also as a junior), USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee, East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up for the Mr. Football award.

He had 26 receptions and 14 touchdowns on offense.

He also played basketball, where he averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game.