Jason Witten

Jason Witten

Christopher Jason Witten is an American football tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Tennessee. Witten was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He initially retired in 2018, but announced in February 2019 that he would end his retirement and return to the Cowboys in 2019.

About Jason Witten in brief

Summary Jason WittenChristopher Jason Witten is an American football tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Tennessee. Witten was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He initially retired in 2018, but announced in February 2019 that he would end his retirement and return to the Cowboys in 2019. He ranks second in all-time career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez. He has two older brothers, Ryan and Shawn, and was raised in Washington D. C., but attended Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee. His grandfather, Dave Rider, was the coach of the football team where he was a two-way player, playing linebacker and tight end. His father, a 6’8\”, 300 lb. mailman, became addicted to alcohol and drugs when he was 6 and became abusive toward Witten’s mother, Kim, and his older brothers. He also played basketball, where he averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for the 2003 season. In 2004, he had a breakout season, leading the NFC NFC with 87 catches, 87 yards and a touchdown. He broke his jaw against the Arizona Cardinals, after hit by Ronald McKinnon and Ray Thompson. He only missed one game and continued to play through the injury and complimented coach Bill Parcells on his toughness. On November 15, 2005, he was selected for the NFL’s all-rookie team.

He had nine receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles, which was also the most in NFL history by a tight end and a team record for the position. On September 7, 2006, he made his NFL debut in a 27–13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons where he had one reception for 13 yards. He received All-SEC and Academic All- SEC honors after leading the conference’s tight ends in receptions and Receiving yards. Even though he decided to enter the NFL Draft after his junior season and had played the position in only 20 games, Witten left ranked third all- time among the school’s tight end with 68 career receptions, and fourth all- Time with 797 receiving yards. In 2008, he received All American, All-State, USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee, East Tennessee Player of The Year and runner-up for the Mr. Football award. The Cowboys had a first-round grade on him, but selected cornerback Terrence Newman and Al Johnson based on team needs. He would go on to become his teammate throughout their careers, as well as his roommate during future team training camps and travel games. In 2009, he became a color analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. He is married to the former Dallas Cowboys player and current Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. The couple have two children, a son, a daughter, and a son-in-law.