He had four receptions for 30 yards in the 29–10 loss. He made his playoff debut in the Wild Card Round against the Carolina Panthers. Witten finished his rookie year with 35 receptions for 347 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. Witten was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for the 2003 season. Head coach Bill Parcells complimented Witten on his toughness. He only missed one game and continued to play through the injury. Witten suffered a fractured jaw against the Arizona Cardinals, after being hit by Ronald McKinnon and Ray Thompson, which required surgery to have three plates inserted to help the healing. On September 7, he made his NFL debut in a 27–13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, where he had one reception for 13 yards. Undrafted free agent Tony Romo was another rookie who also arrived in Dallas in 2003 and would go on to become Witten's teammate throughout their careers, as well as his roommate during future team training camps and travel games.Įntering the league as a 20-year-old rookie, one of the youngest players in the NFL, Witten started seven of the 15 games he played in. Although the Cowboys had a first-round grade on Witten, when their turn came in the first and second rounds, they selected cornerback Terrence Newman and Al Johnson based on team needs. He was the fifth tight end selected that year. Witten was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round with the 69th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Professional career Pre-draft measurablesĭallas Cowboys 2003 season The Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award honors a player who shows strong leadership qualities on and off the field. Legacy įollowing the 2017 college football season, Witten's name was placed on a college football award. Įven 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 ends with 68 career receptions and fourth all-time with 797 receiving yards. He was a semifinalist for the John Mackey Tight End Award. He received All-SEC (SEC) and Academic All-SEC honors after leading the conference's tight ends in receptions and receiving yards. See also: 2002 Tennessee Volunteers football teamĪs a junior, Witten had a breakout year, setting school records for a tight end in receptions (39) and receiving yards (493) with five touchdowns, including one of the most memorable receptions in school history, a game-winning touchdown in the sixth overtime against Arkansas. He also played basketball, where he averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per game. He had 26 receptions and 14 touchdowns on offense. That year, he received several accolades: All-American, All-State (also as a junior), USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee, East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up for the Mr. As a senior linebacker, he finished the season with 163 tackles (registering a career school record 450), nine sacks, two interceptions, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks. Witten became a three-year starter playing both linebacker and tight end, while helping his team reach the state semi-finals three times. His grandfather, Dave Rider, was the coach of the football team where Witten was a two-way player, playing linebacker and tight end. When Witten was 11, he moved to Elizabethton to live with his grandparents. mailman, became addicted to alcohol and drugs when Witten was 6 and became abusive toward Witten's mother, Kim, and Witten's older brothers. ![]() Witten has one cousin, Triston Witten, two older brothers, Ryan and Shawn who were raised in Washington D.C., but attended Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Witten afterward retired again but signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Cowboys. Witten then joined the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2020 season. After working as an ESPN color analyst for the 2018 season, Witten returned to the NFL for the 2019 season, reuniting with the Cowboys. ![]() Initially retiring in 2018, he became a color analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time. Witten ranks second in all-time career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. ![]() He currently is the head coach of the Liberty Christian School. Most career NFL games by a tight end: 271Ĭhristopher Jason Witten (born May 6, 1982) is an American former professional football tight end for 17 seasons, primarily for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2012).* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
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