Jason Witten could go from the field to the broadcast booth. The Cowboys tight end is planning to retire after 15 years in the NFL to join ESPN’s new Monday Night Football broadcast team as a lead analyst, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com tweets. However, he’ll meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Friday before finalizing his decision. 
Witten has spent his entire 15-year career with the Cowboys and has been selected to eleven Pro Bowls. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions (1,152), receiving yards (12,448) and most consecutive games played (239).
Witten, 36 in May, has missed one regular season game for Dallas as a rookie, but has a perfect attendance record dating back to 2004. His 2017 numbers were not his gaudiest, but he was still productive with 63 catches for 560 yards and five touchdowns. He was also among the ten best run blockers at the tight end position, per Pro Football Focus.
News of Witten’s potential retirement comes as a surprise. Just last week, Witten indicated that he had some football left in the tank.
“There’s been a lot of things [said] over the years, especially the last few months. I guess that’s what happens when you get old,” Witten said (Twitter link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News). “Hopefully I can play until I’m 40. I’ll take it one day at a time. My plan is to be here with the Cowboys. Absolutely.”
ESPN nearly poached another big name tight end for its broadcast booth earlier this year. Panthers tight end Greg Olsen auditioned for the job and appeared to be giving it real consideration before signing a lucrative extension with Carolina on Thursday.
What!?!? No farewell tour or final season? What a great guy and a future HOF. But as a fan, this stinks. Massive loss for the Cowboys.
Dallas sport fans are likely to see the last of Beltre, Dirk, and Witten, all in the next 12 months. 3 icons and 3 future HOF’s…
Massive loss???? I don’t follow.
If we are gonna talk about Dez not being able to produce on the field then why are we still sending Witten out there? He’s an old man that we all love but again OLD. Witten was elite in his time of TE’s but like everything else the position evolves with the gronks, Kelce, ertz of the world. Loved him but as a cowboys fan you should be excited to get some fresh legs out there if you were part of the group to send out dez.
lol who are you excited to run out there exactly? unless they spend a day 2 pick on someone you think Rico is going to come in off of missing an entire year of football the be the fresh leg tight end savior?
Smh, not a smart fan here. 36th in Receptions among WR/TE/RBlast year. 13th in Catch% among WR/TEs. 72nd in Yards among WR/TE/RB, 11th among TEs, 47th in TDs among WR/TE/RB. Still putting up Top-10 #s for TEs.
73% catch rate. The man was sure-handed. He will be missed.
As an Eagles fan I gotta take my hat off for the guy. Always professional, the type of guy every fanbase loves both off and on the field
One of the quiet great ones at his position. Next stop- Canton. Happy Trails
did they know this last night before they passed on two WRs and a TE?
They must have known. Prob knew weeks ago. I mean this is the biggest stage for the announcement to be made. Will get a bunch of TV time tonight, without throwing shade on 1st round draft picks.
I would hope they did, was surprised they didn’t draft one of them, although I like the pick they made.
Can’t wait for kettle chips later.
You are a waste of space!
So Dallas has a TE retire and therevjust happens to be a TE available in the second round named Dallas? COME ON!!!! Go get em Jerry
This may change the dynamics in tonight and tomorrow’s draft. Cowboys weren’t planning on using a top draft pick for a TE, but had in mind that position in rounds three, four and five. Look for Dallas Goedert, Dalton Schultz, or Mark Andrews as possibilities.