Witten officially retires after 15 years in NFL
Published 5:02 pm Thursday, May 3, 2018
- File Photo/Bryce Phillips Dallas Cowboys' Jason Witten addresses campers during the 2017 Jason Witten Football Camp inside Citizens Bank Stadium. Witten announced Thursday that he will be retiring from professional football to begin a broadcasting career with ESPN, per a report from the company.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten’s long NFL career has come to a close.
The 11-time pro bowler announced that he would be retiring from professional football during a press conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Thursday.
“I never wanted this day to come, but it does come for all of us,” said Witten as he held back his emotions during the press conference.
Following retirement, Witten will join ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast team, according to a report by ESPN.
Over his decade-and-half long career, Witten played in a Cowboys-record 239 total games with 235 of those being consecutive. During those hundred of games, Witten pulled in 1,152 catches for 12, 448 yards as he became the Cowboys all-time leader in receptions.
Witten, after playing for the University of Tennessee, was drafted by Cowboys during the 2003 draft. Witten was scooped up in the third round and was the 69th overall pick.
The Elizabethton native was a star linebacker and tight end for the Elizabethton High School Cyclones as he played under his grandfather, Dave Rider.
