36-year-old Jason Witten is coming out of retirement to return to the NFL, the Cowboys announced Thursday.
Witten, who will be 37 in May, spent the 2018 season calling Monday Night Football games at ESPN. Many will rejoice his departure from the four-letter network, as Witten's transition into the booth went... badly.
“He pulls another rabbit out of his head”Jason Witten shockingly retires as an announcer. One of the -- ‘s pic.twitter.com/PzCsNdZwxv
— King Brycen-- (@BrycenNFL) February 28, 2019Jason Witten found the only way to get people to stop talking about how bad he is at broadcasting. Genius move
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 28, 2019When Jason Witten un-retires, we all win. MNF is back baby!
— Liz Gonzales (@TheLizGonzales) February 28, 2019"The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong," Witten 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."
After debating it during the regular season, Jason Witten has ended his NFL retirement to return to the Dallas Cowboys.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2019Witten will reportedly earn a base salary of $3.5 million for the 2019 season.
Cowboys are giving their former and new tight end Jason Witten a one-year, $3.5 million contract, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2019The $5M number is the max for Witten. Base value is $3.5M. https://t.co/Tb3PlvvA1t
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2019After his initial retirement, Witten ranked fourth all-time in career receptions (1,152), trailing only Jerry Rice (1,549), Tony Gonzalez (1,325) and Larry Fitzgerald (1,303). His 12,448 career receiving yards trails only Gonzalez among tight ends. Witten, a third-round pick by the Cowboys in 2003, played 15 seasons in Dallas.
It should be noted this resets Witten's five-year countdown to Hall of Fame candidacy.
Feel free to vote in our poll.
Who gains more from Jason Witten's return to the Cowboys: The NFC East, or Monday Night Football viewers?
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) February 28, 2019Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan on Twitter
