He’s Back! (If You Care)

28 Feb, 2019

Jason Witten is returning to the Dallas Cowboys, the team announced Thursday.

Witten is leaving ESPN’s Monday Night Football and returning to the playing field less than a year after announcing his retirement. Sources told ESPN that the tight end is getting a one-year deal worth $3.5 million that can max out at $5 million, including roster bonuses and incentives.

Witten played in 11 Pro Bowls during his 15 years with the Cowboys, becoming the franchise leader with 1,152 receptions, which ranks fourth in NFL history, and 12,448 receiving yards. He also holds franchise records for games played (239), consecutive games (236), starts (229) and consecutive starts (179).

In returning, he also will have the longest service time with the organization at 16 years.

“The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong,” Witten, who will turn 37 in May, said in a statement. “This team has a great group of rising young stars, and I want to help them make a run at a championship. This was completely my decision, and I am very comfortable with it. I’m looking forward to getting back in the dirt.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, there are some in the Cowboys’ organization who have long considered Witten as an NFL head-coaching candidate — and this move could help serve as the bridge to his coaching career.

Before joining ESPN last May, Witten went back and forth on a decision to leave the game until ultimately signing a four-year deal with the network. There were some rough patches during his first year as an analyst, which he acknowledged, but he felt there was growth as well.

“We thank Jason for his many contributions to Monday Night Football and to ESPN over the past year and wish him continued success,” ESPN said in a statement. “We have seen many former coaches and players go into broadcasting before eventually returning to the game they love, so we understand Jason’s desire to return to the Dallas Cowboys.”

In the statement, ESPN said it would determine next season’s plans for Monday Night Football in the coming weeks.

There were discussions about Witten’s potential return to the playing field during last season, but he remained in the booth.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he was excited about Witten’s return.

“I know he thought about the decision to go do Monday Night Football. He thought about it long and hard. It was a very heart-felt decision,” Garrett told reporters Thursday. “I don’t think it was an easy decision for him. It was such a great opportunity. … But in the long conversations we had before he made that decision, I knew he still loved to play football. There is no question in my mind he can still play at a high level.

“When he was away from it, he continued to realize that and understand that. He just decided to make this decision because he still loves the game and wanted to be a part of it.”

His decision to return, according to sources, stemmed from his feeling that he had more to give as a player rather than any unhappiness with television. It also resets the clock for a possible selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 2017, Witten caught 63 passes for 560 yards and five touchdowns and was added to the Pro Bowl as a first alternate.

ESPN

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