Cowboys’ tight end Jason Witten announced his planned retirement on Friday. Reports suggest he is leaving the football field to join ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast booth.
During his 15 year NFL career, the 36-year-old Witten solidified himself as one of the best tight ends in the history of the game. As a reliable pass-catching option, and an above-average blocker, the lifelong Cowboy was a two-way weapon that Dallas will surely miss in 2018-2019.
Witten is only the second tight end in NFL history to record more than 1,000 catches. He owns the second most receiving yards and receptions for a tight end in league history, while also coming in at fourth in the all-time receptions list for players at any position.
Witten ends his career at 1,152 receptions and 12,448 total yards, both Cowboys records. His other Dallas records include most receptions in a game (18) and most consecutive games played (239).
He will be taking Jon Gruden’s spot on Monday Night Football, as Gruden left to coach the Oakland Raiders. This is no small task, as Gruden was known for his notoriously in-depth commentary and breakdown of routes and coverages.
Jason Witten will join ESPN’s Monday Night Football after announcing his retirement on Friday. (Photo by Khampha Bouaphanh/TNS)
As Witten’s old teammate, Tony Romo, has proven, though, sometimes going straight from the field to the booth can result in great color commentary. Romo, through his first season as a broadcaster, has made a name for himself predicting plays before they happen. Probably due to the fact that he knows today’s game and players better than most, having played against them recently. Witten could continue this trend, as his football IQ is sky high.
The 11-time Pro Bowler is destined for Canton, and will certainly go down as an all-time Cowboys great. The leadership will be sorely missed, as Dallas’ core is getting younger and younger. Retiring without a Super Bowl appearance, this may not be the last time we see Witten on an NFL sideline, however.
Featured image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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