I’m telling you this story ’cause I know you are shocked- Jason Witten was a beloved NFL player for over fifteen years! I can’t believe the man retired from the game. It almost seemed like Witten was an immortal on the field when he started playing in 2003. He was a stud tight end with the Dallas Cowboys and was one of those legends that seemingly stayed around forever and then suddenly retired in 2018!
As you likely know, Jason Witten was drafted out of Tennessee and was the 69th pick of the 2003 NFL draft. He was immediately coveted by Cowboys faithfuls and quickly became a fan favorite due to his toughness and loyalty. He had a prime role on the team for more than a decade and then he made an admirable move and retired from playing the game in 2018.
The man made a huge sacrifice for his family and in order to pursue his political career. He was definitely successful with his pursuit, since being inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame this year. At a whopping fifteen seasons, his career is tied for the third-longest in NFL history, behind only Tom Brady and Jerry Rice!
You have to admit that Jason was quite an athlete. He wasn’t the biggest guy but he was definitely one of the toughest! He was one of the few players who played in all but one of the 256 regular-season games in his entire career. He was also named to 11 Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro teams, winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2012.
Jason also possessed a secret weapon, his leadership! He was a leader both on and off the field and he was highly respected in the locker room. He was constantly looking out for the team and genuinely cared about every single player. He led the Cowboys to the playoffs six times and won three NFC East championships.
It’s difficult to say how much of an impact the man had on the game. He was one of those valuable players that no one ever complained about and was always highly praised for his performance and conduct. You gotta appreciate his commitment and dedication to the sport. He set a great example for every guy in the game today.
Considering his incredible productivity, it should come as no surprise that he ends up so high up in the NFL records, second in career receptions and ninth in receiving yards when he retired. Jason was a winner, no doubt about that and you have to give him credit for his exceptional career. He is certainly a great role model for future players and football fans alike.
No one will ever forget Witten’s contributions on and off the field. He was one of those players that never aged and somehow always got better with time. It must have been difficult to end his career but it’s clear that he made the right decision and chose the right path.
Jason had a great impact on the game, no doubt about that. He spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys and it was his second MLB team in a way. Even though he retired, he still is cherished by all the Cowboys fans out there and will remain in our hearts and minds forever.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Witten can come back from retirement one day and prove to us once more that he is an invincible force on the field. He wasn’t one to make promises but he certainly delivered on everything he did for fifteen seasons! Maybe that is why we miss him so much- he was a true professional and never cheated the fans in any way.