FRISCO, Texas – After 17 seasons, Jason Witten retires from the NFL. He plans to sign a one-day contract and retire from the Dallas Cowboys in March, when his contract with the Las Vegas Raiders expires at the end of the league year.
Witten, 38, played 16 seasons with the Cowboys and spent 2020 with the Raiders. No tight ending in NFL history has played more games than Witten’s 271, and only Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez has more receptions and yards on the position.
“A coach once told me, ‘The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the legacy of a great example’, ” Witten told ESPN. I’ve given my absolute everything for many seasons. I am proud of my achievements as a footballer on the field and the example I tried to set. Football is great. game that taught me many valuable lessons, and I look forward to passing on that knowledge to the next generation. “
Witten first retired after the 2017 season and spent 2018 as an ESPN Monday Night Football analyst, but chose to return to the Cowboys in 2019.
Witten, a third-round pick in 2003, evolved into one of the best tight ends in NFL history. He was named in the Pro Bowl eleven times, was most associated in Dallas history with Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bob Lilly, and was considered a complete tight ending for his ability as a blocker to his pass-catcher . In 2012, he was named Walter Payton Man of the Year winner by the NFL for the work he and his wife, Michelle, have done with their foundation.
Witten is the all-time leader of the Cowboys in receptions (1,215) and yards (12,977) and is second in touchdown catches (72). He had four 1,000-yard seasons and in 2012 set the record for catches in a season with a tight end (110) – a record that has since been broken.
He played in a team record of 255 games, including a franchise record of 245 starts, and only missed one game in his career due to a broken jaw as a rookie. He had 13 catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders, but was praised by coach Jon Gruden and fellow tight-end Darren Waller for his mentorship.
Coaching has long been mentioned as an option for Witten’s next move. He has been immediately associated with opportunities at the NFL and college level should he want to take that path. He will no doubt be inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor, and will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.