Dallas Cowboys legendary TE with more receiving yards than Travis Kelce lands college football job

Jan 9, 2026 - 14:30

Jason Witten is taking his coaching talent to college football.

The former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro tight end has just finalized a deal to become the tight ends coach at Oklahoma, per a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten (82) looks on before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles on December 22, 2019 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. — Cowboys All-Pro TE Jason Witten is set to become the new TE coach at OU

Witten will work for Sooners head coach Brent Venables and under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

Witten replaces Joe Jon Finley, who was let go in the first week of January after five seasons.

Finley was OU’s play caller in 2024 as a result of an in-season coaching change.

For the past five years, Witten has served as the head football coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

Back in 2023, he led the team to the state championship, as well as their first undefeated season in school history.

Now, he makes the jump up to the collegiate level.

Humble beginnings to future Hall of Famer

Witten spent his collegiate career at Tennessee, where he entered the program as a defensive end.

But he was very quickly moved onto the offense and assumed the tight end position mid-way through his freshman season.

He enjoyed a breakout season in the SEC during junior year where he set Volunteers records, recording 39 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns – the most by any tight end in a single season.

Witten went on to be drafted by the Cowboys in the third round – the 69th overall pick – of the 2003 NFL draft.

ason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys runs a pass in for a touchdown in the first quarter on Thanksgiving Day during a game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium on November 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. — Witten holds Cowboys record for most receiving yards and most games played by a TE

Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten (82) makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams on December 15, 2019 — Witten is considered one of the greatest pass-catching TEs in NFL history

The 11-time Pro Bowler first retired from the NFL in 2017, where he assumed the role of being a color commentator for Monday Night Football.

However, he returned to the gridiron for the 2019 season with the Cowboys, before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders for his 17th – and final – season in 2020.

Throughout his career, Witten recorded 1,228 receptions and 13,046 receiving yards, which ranks second in NFL history for a tight end behind only that of all-time great and Hall of Famer, Tony Gonzalez.

He caught 110 passes in a single season (2012) – the same year he was named the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year – and surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark on four occasions.

Having spent 16 seasons in Dallas, he holds the franchise record for career receptions (1,215), career receiving yards (12,977), the most consecutive games started (179) and most games played by a tight end (179).

Touted as one of the greatest pass-catching tight ends in history, it seems only a matter of time before Witten’s name will be in the Hall of Fame, with the 43-year-old having been named on the 2026 shortlist.

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