FRISCO – After 17 seasons, Jason Witten withdraws from the NFL.
He intends to sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in March, when his contract with Las Vegas Raiders expires at the end of the competition year.
WhitesThe 38-year-old played 16 seasons for the Cowboys and spent the 2020 campaign with the Raiders. Not a tight end in the history of the NFL played in more games than the 271 of Whites, and only the member of the Hall of Fame, Tony Gonzalez, gathered more receptions and yards at 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,’” he said. Whites a ESPN. “As I say goodbye, I walk away knowing that I have given him my absolute everything for 17 seasons. I am proud of my achievements as a footballer on the field and the example I tried to set outside. that taught me valuable lessons, and I looked forward to passing that knowledge on to the next generation. ”
He initially retired after the 2017 season and worked as an analyst for the “Monday Night Football” from ESPN, but chose to return to Cowboys in 2019.
A third round design pick from 2003, Whites became one of the best tight ends in the history of the NFL. He was appointed 11 times Pro Bowl 11, who is the defensive lineman of Hall of Fame, Bob Lilly, for the most in the history of Dallas, and was considered a complete tight ending due to its ability to block and its ability to catch passes. In 2012 he was declared the winner of the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his work with his wife, Michelle, through its foundation.
He is the historical leader for that Cowboys in receptions (1,215) and yards (12,977), and second in touchdown receptions (72). He added four seasons of at least 1,000 yards and in 2012 set the record for most tight-ended receptions (110), one that was eventually surpassed.
He set a club record with 255 games, including 245 starts, another club record. He only missed one game in his career with a broken jaw as a rookie. He caught 13 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns for Raiders, but was praised by the head coach Jon Gruden and it has a tight ending too Darren Waller for his mentoring.
A career as a coach has been mentioned as a next move option Whites. Is linked to opportunities in the NFL and immediately at the university level should you decide to take that path. It will no doubt be part of it Ring of Honor of the Cowboys, and you are eligible for the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2026.