Getty Jason Witten
Jason Witten is calling it a career. Again.
The future Hall of Fame tight end announced Wednesday his retirement from the NFL after 17 seasons. He plans to sign a one-day contract in March to officially retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
“A coach once told me, ‘The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example,'” Witten said in a statement to ESPN’s Todd Archer. “As I hang it up, I walk away knowing that for 17 seasons I gave it my absolute all. I am proud of my accomplishments as a football player on the field and the example I tried to set off of it. Football is a great game that has taught me many valuable lessons, and I look forward to passing on that knowledge to the next generation.”
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Gold-Jacket Cowboys Career
One of the best the sport has ever seen, Witten is a shoo-in for Canton when first eligible. A 2003 third-round pick, the 38-year-old walks away as an 11-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro, and the record-holder for most NFL games played by a TE (271).
Witten spent 16 seasons in Dallas, catching 1,215 passes for 12,977 yards — both franchise records — and 72 touchdowns across 255 games (245 starts). He cracked 1,000-plus yards on four separate occasions, including a career-high 1,145 yards on 96 grabs in 2007 when he earned his first All-Pro selection.
Witten initially retired in 2018, subsequently agreeing to join ESPN as a Monday Night Football commentator. The new venture lasted exactly one year. In 2019, he ditched the booth and rejoined the Cowboys, inking a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Witten was largely a non-factor that season, tallying just 529 yards and four TDs on 63 snags.
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Brief Raiders Stint
The writing on the wall with younger players waiting in the wings, Witten opted to defect Dallas this past offseason, inking a one-year pact with the Las Vegas Raiders — a move that coincided with the firing of then-longtime head coach Jason Garrett and the firing of Garrett’s successor, Mike McCarthy.
“Obviously, I had a great relationship over 16, 17 years there with the Jones family. Very honest and very upfront. Of course, with Mike [McCarthy], look, that’s a talented team. But this was a unique opportunity for me as well to come here,” Witten explained in August, via FanSided.com. “I’m invigorated by this challenge, where I am in my career. It made a lot of sense from the fit and the role and the presence that I could have. I didn’t really overthink it. Just a great opportunity to go in there and compete. I’m very fortunate for that. I’ll challenge myself to play at a high level, even where my age is. It’s been a lot of fun for me.”
Witten’s swan song was far from a hit. Relegated to spot duty, he registered a paltry 13 receptions for 69 yards and two scores over seven starts, the lowest output of his illustrious professional tenure.
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Follow Zack Kelberman on Twitter: @KelbermanNFL