The wait is over. Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten will retire and enter the broadcast booth for Monday Night Football, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Breaking: Jason Witten is retiring from the Cowboys and joining ESPN as an analyst for Monday Night Football, multiple sources tell @toddarcher. pic.twitter.com/JnPvCrvzNW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 3, 2018
While news broke last Friday that Witten was planning to hang ’em up, nothing official had yet come from Jason himself or the organization.
In fact, there were reports this week that Coach Jason Garrett was trying to convince Witten to stick around for one more year. That’s not surprising given the Cowboys’ lack of experience at the TE position, plus the desire to have Witten’s leadership in an otherwise young locker room.
But no, it appears #82’s time is done in Dallas. He retires as the franchise leader in receptions and receiving yards, and third all-time in receiving touchdowns.
On November 5th, the Cowboys will host the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. Last year, Tony Romo’s first game back to Dallas as a CBS analyst came with a special program and fanfare.
We should expect no less for Jason Witten’s return. Arguably the team’s greatest player of the 2000s, this future Hall of Famer epitomized professionalism and excellence from almost the moment he walked through the door.
With both Witten and Dez Bryant now gone, the 2018 Dallas Cowboys offense will feel very different. We can only hope that new names and faces emerge to fill their big shoes.
