Jason Witten Never Considered Playing for a New Team While Considering NFL Comeback
By Austin Pert
Even as longtime tight end Jason Witten retired from the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys after 15 years with the franchise, it could be safely assumed that he was still a Cowboy for life. And according to a new report, that's exactly how he felt as he was first mulling a return to professional football that eventually came to fruition.
Jason Witten grateful he didn't have to make a decision about playing for another team after deciding he wanted to return https://t.co/asnD2zY5y8
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 29, 2019
It was down to playing for the Cowboys once again or remaining in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth. There was no middle ground.
"I don’t know that I could’ve seen myself wearing another uniform," Witten told ESPN's Todd Archer on Wednesday.
Watch as #DallasCowboys veteran tight end Jason Witten discusses the process of getting back into playing shape after a year off.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) May 29, 2019
Full Video ? https://t.co/hMGX72IkcR pic.twitter.com/kW6IhjzUZS
The former Tennessee Volunteer leads Dallas in all-time receptions (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448). He had only missed one game in his career before retiring, including zero missed starts since 2006. Witten will look to continue to show his durability in 2019 -- even at age 37 -- fresh off his year away from the gridiron.
He caught 63 passes for 560 and five touchdowns in 2017 before hanging up his uniform and trading it for a headset in the broadcast booth at ESPN, hoping to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Tony Romo, who's done great work with CBS. However, Witten missed wearing the Lone Star enough to sign a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Cowboys.