Jason Witten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jason Witten

Witten with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017
No. 82
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(1982-05-06) May 6, 1982 (age 43) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	263 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High school:	Elizabethton (Elizabethton, Tennessee)
College:	Tennessee (2000–2002)
NFL Draft:	2003 / Round: 3 / Pick: 69
Career history
As player:
Dallas Cowboys (2003, 2019) Las Vegas Raiders (2020)
As coach:
Liberty Christian (TX) (2021–present) Head coach
Career highlights and awards
2× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010) 2× Second-team All-Pro (2008, 2012) 11× Pro Bowl (2004–2010, 2012–2014, 2017) Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2012) Bart Starr Award (2013) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2003) First-team All-SEC (2002) Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2019)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 1,228 Receiving yards: 13,046 Receiving touchdowns: 74
Player stats at PFR

Christopher Jason Witten (born May 6, 1982) is a former American football player. He played as a tight end for 17 seasons. Most of his career was with the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Today, he is the head football coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

Witten played college football for the University of Tennessee. The Cowboys picked him in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He is known as one of the best tight ends ever. He ranks second in NFL history for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. Only Tony Gonzalez has more.

After retiring in 2018, he worked as a TV analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football. He returned to play for the Cowboys in 2019. Then, he joined the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2020 season. Witten retired again after that. He signed a special one-day contract to officially retire as a Dallas Cowboy.

Early life

Jason Witten grew up in Elizabethton, Tennessee. He lived with his grandparents. His grandfather, Dave Rider, was a football coach. Jason played for his grandfather's team. He played both linebacker (defense) and tight end (offense).

Witten was a starter for three years in high school. He helped his team reach the state semi-finals three times. As a senior, he had 163 tackles as a linebacker. He also caught 26 passes and scored 14 touchdowns on offense. He was named an All-American and Tennessee Player of the Year. He also played basketball in high school.

College career

In 2000, Witten went to the University of Tennessee on a scholarship. The coach, Phillip Fulmer, first wanted him to play defensive end. Jason played on special teams and as a backup defensive end.

Later in the season, he moved to tight end because of team injuries. He didn't like the change at first. But he learned the position and became a strong blocker. As a freshman, he had one catch for 11 yards.

2001 season

In 2001, Witten played in all 13 games. He caught 28 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He scored his first college touchdown against Alabama. In the 2002 Citrus Bowl, he had 125 receiving yards and a touchdown. This was one of the best bowl game performances in Tennessee history.

2002 season

As a junior, Witten had a great year. He set school records for a tight end. He had 39 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns. One famous catch was a game-winning touchdown in overtime against Arkansas. He was named All-SEC for his strong play.

Witten decided to enter the NFL Draft after this season. Even though he only played tight end for 20 games, he ranked high in school history. He was third in career catches and fourth in receiving yards for tight ends.

Legacy

After the 2017 college football season, an award was named after Jason Witten. The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award honors a player. It celebrates strong leadership on and off the field.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)

2003 season

The Dallas Cowboys picked Witten in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 69th player chosen. He was one of the youngest players in the NFL at 20 years old. He started seven of 15 games.

In his first NFL game, he had one catch for 13 yards. He broke his jaw during a game but only missed one game. His coach, Bill Parcells, praised his toughness. Witten was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He finished his first year with 35 catches for 347 yards and one touchdown.

2004 season

Witten had a fantastic season in 2004. He caught 87 passes for 980 yards and six touchdowns. His 87 catches led the NFC for tight ends. This was also a Cowboys record for a tight end. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl.

2005 season

In 2005, Witten had 66 catches for 757 yards and six touchdowns. He became the first Cowboys tight end with over 65 catches in two years in a row. He was named to his second Pro Bowl.

2006 season

Witten continued his success in 2006. He had 64 catches for 754 yards and one touchdown. He was chosen for his third Pro Bowl. He also signed a new contract with the Cowboys.

2007 season

Witten had his best year yet in 2007. He broke his own Cowboys record with 96 catches. He also became the first Cowboys tight end to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. In one game, he caught 15 passes, tying an NFL record for tight ends. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl and named First-team All-Pro.

2008 season

In 2008, Witten made his 400th NFL catch. He finished the season with 81 catches for 952 yards and four touchdowns. He was named a starter for the Pro Bowl again.

2009 season

Witten in 2009

Witten had another strong season in 2009. He had 94 catches for 1,030 yards and two touchdowns. He played in all 16 games. He also won the NFL Iron Man Award. The Cowboys made the playoffs that year.

Witten (left) during an interview with ESPN.

2010 season

In 2010, Witten became the fastest tight end to reach 600 catches. He did this in 125 games. He was chosen for his seventh straight Pro Bowl. He was also named Tight End of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association. He finished the season with 94 catches for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named First-team All-Pro for the second time.

2011 season

Witten started the 2011 season with two games over 100 receiving yards. He passed Ozzie Newsome to become the third tight end in NFL history with the most catches. He finished the season with 79 catches for 942 yards and five touchdowns. He played in all 16 games.

2012 season

In 2012, Witten had a serious injury to his spleen before the season. But he worked hard and played in the first game. He became the second player in Cowboys history to reach 700 catches. He also became the fastest tight end to reach 700 catches.

In Week 8, Witten set a new NFL record for tight ends. He caught 18 passes in one game. This was also a career high for him with 167 yards. Later, he broke the Cowboys' all-time receptions record. He passed Michael Irvin's record of 750 catches.

In Week 16, Witten set an NFL record for catches by a tight end in a single season. He had 103 catches, breaking Tony Gonzalez's record. He finished the season with 110 catches. He was chosen for his eighth Pro Bowl. He also won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. This award honors players for their work on and off the field.

2013 season

In 2013, Witten had two touchdowns in the first game. He passed Shannon Sharpe for the second most catches by a tight end in NFL history. He finished the season with 73 catches for 851 yards and eight touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time.

2014 season

Witten at the 2015 Pro Bowl

In 2014, Witten reached 10,000 career receiving yards. He was only the third tight end in NFL history to do so. He also became the all-time leader for consecutive starts by a tight end. He was the second tight end in NFL history to reach 900 catches.

Witten's blocking was very important this season. He helped DeMarco Murray lead the NFL in rushing yards. Witten finished with 64 catches for 703 yards and five touchdowns. He was named to his tenth Pro Bowl.

2015 season

Witten in 2015

In 2015, Witten played his 196th straight game. This broke the Cowboys' record for consecutive games played. Two weeks later, he became the second tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 catches. Only Tony Gonzalez had done it before him. He also set a Cowboys record for consecutive games with a reception.

Witten was asked to block more often this season. He led the Cowboys with 77 catches for 713 yards and three touchdowns.

2016 season

In 2016, Witten caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Philadelphia Eagles. This made him the first Cowboys player to score in 14 different seasons. He finished the season with 69 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught his first playoff touchdown.

2017 season

In 2017, Witten signed a new contract with the Cowboys. In Week 1, he passed Michael Irvin for the most career receiving yards in Cowboys history. He also became one of only three NFL players to have at least 150 catches against one team. He finished the season with 63 catches for 560 yards and five touchdowns. He was chosen for his 11th Pro Bowl. This tied a Cowboys record with Bob Lilly.

Initial retirement

Witten (right) during his initial retirement in 2018

On April 26, 2018, Jason Witten announced his retirement from playing football. He decided to become a lead analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football TV show.

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)

On February 28, 2019, Witten announced he would return to the Cowboys. He signed a one-year contract. In his first game back, he had three catches and a touchdown. For the 2019 season, Witten played in all 16 games. He had 63 catches for 529 yards and four touchdowns.

Las Vegas Raiders

On March 25, 2020, Witten signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. He scored his first touchdown as a Raider in Week 4. He was fined for breaking NFL rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2020 season, he played in 16 games and started seven. He had 13 catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

Second retirement

On January 27, 2021, Witten announced he was retiring from the NFL again. He said he planned to sign a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Cowboys.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

NFL records and achievements

• Most catches in a single game by a tight end: 18 (October 28, 2012)
• Won the 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
• 4th in total catches in NFL history: 1,228 (as of 2021)
• Most consecutive games played by a tight end: 235 (243 including playoffs)
• Most consecutive games started by a tight end: 179 (186 including playoffs)
• Fastest tight end to reach 600 catches (125 games)

Cowboys franchise records

• Most career catches: 1,215
• Most career receiving yards: 12,977
• Most catches in a single game: 18 (October 28, 2012, against the New York Giants)
• Most games played: 255
• Most consecutive games started: 179
• First tight end to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season
• First tight end to have at least 65 catches in two seasons in a row
• First player in Cowboys history to score in 16 different seasons

Coaching career

On February 1, 2021, Jason Witten was named the head football coach at Liberty Christian School. In 2023, he led the school to win the state football championship. This was the school's fourth title and its first undefeated season. In 2024, his team won a second straight state title.

Personal life

Witten signing autographs in 2018

Jason Witten lives in Westlake, Texas. This area is near Dallas. He lives with his wife Michelle, who is an emergency room nurse. They have four children: C.J., Cooper, Landry, and Hadley Grace.

Witten is a Christian. He has spoken about his faith in a video series called I Am Second.

In 2021, after retiring from the NFL for the second time, Witten became a high school football coach. He chose to coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Jason Witten para niños