Oklahoma Officially Unveils Nfl Legend Jason Witten As Tight Ends Coach

BY OU MEDIA RELATIONS

University of Oklahoma caput shot coach Brent Venables announced Thursday that Jason Witten, a erstwhile All-Pro tight extremity who played 17 seasons successful nan NFL and guided 2 authorities title teams successful his five-year tenure arsenic a precocious schoolhouse caput shot coach successful Texas, is OU’s caller tight ends coach.

Since retiring from nan NFL pursuing nan 2020 season, Witten has served arsenic caput coach astatine Liberty Christian School successful Argyle, Texas, wherever he led nan Warriors to consecutive Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools authorities championships successful 2023 and ’24. The titles were nan school’s first back-to-back shot authorities championships and nan ’24 crown was its first successful TAPPS Division I. In his 5 seasons astatine Liberty Christian, Witten tutored players who earned TAPPS All-State nickname 53 times.

Over his 17-year NFL career, Witten compiled 1,228 receptions for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns. A two-time first-team All-Pro and 11-time Pro Bowler, he ranks 4th all-time successful NFL receptions and 22nd successful yards among each receivers (second among tight ends successful some categories).

Witten is 1 of 15 finalists – and 1 of 4 successful his first twelvemonth of eligibility – successful nan Modern-Era Players class for nan Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which will beryllium announced Feb. 5.

A third-round draught prime by nan Dallas Cowboys successful 2003, Witten played 15 seasons earlier initially retiring pursuing nan 2017 campaign. He returned to action successful 2019 pinch nan Cowboys earlier playing his last play pinch nan Las Vegas Raiders successful 2020. A modern shot robust man, he played successful 271 retired of 272 regular play contests (252 starts) and missed only 1 crippled retired of 280 (including playoffs) complete his career. He retired for bully arsenic nan NFL profession grounds holder for games played among tight ends.

Witten registered 4 seasons pinch astatine slightest 1,000 receiving yards and 7 seasons pinch astatine slightest 900 yards. In his 2nd year, he caught 87 passes for 980 yards and six touchdowns, earning nan first of 7 consecutive Pro Bowl nods. He received first-team All-Pro honors successful 2007 erstwhile he totaled 1,145 yards and 7 touchdowns connected 96 receptions and again successful 2010 aft catching 94 passes for 1,002 yards and 9 scores. He besides earned second-team All-Pro position successful 2008 and 2012. He was named to nan Pro Bowl successful 10 of 11 seasons betwixt 2004-2014, arsenic good arsenic successful 2017.

The 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of nan Year honoree, Witten established nan Jason Witten Collegiate Man of nan Year grant done his SCORE Foundation, which was first presented pursuing nan 2017 season. Witten was besides nan recipient of nan 2013 Bart Starr Award and nan 2015 Pat Summitt Ignite Greatness Award, arsenic good arsenic Pro Football Weekly’s Humanitarian of nan Year Award, nan Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and nan Bob Lilly Award, recognizing his organization work work, achievements connected nan section and dedication to teammates and family. He was inducted into nan Texas Sports Hall of Fame successful 2019.

A merchandise of Elizabethton, Tenn., Witten played 3 seasons astatine nan University of Tennessee, wherever he was a first-team All-SEC action and a John Mackey Award semifinalist, arsenic good arsenic a personnel of nan SEC Good Works Team and SEC Academic Honor Roll, successful 2002. That season, he led nan Volunteers successful receptions (39), receiving yards (493) and touchdown receptions (five) and established a single-season schoolhouse grounds for receiving yards among tight ends. He totaled 68 catches for 797 yards and 8 touchdowns successful his assemblage career.

Witten graduated from Tennessee successful 2008 pinch a grade successful sports management. He and his woman Michelle person 2 sons (C.J. and Cooper) and 2 daughters (Landry and Hadley Grace).

OU Head Coach Brent Venables:

“When you talk astir Jason Witten you commencement pinch nan impeccable quality being he is. That’s arsenic a competitor, a leader, a coach, a dad, a husband. He’s 1 of those uncommon group who represents incredibly precocious character, integrity and excellence. He’s a tremendous communicator blessed pinch unbelievable interpersonal skills. That’s who he was arsenic a leader successful nan locker room arsenic a player, and you tin spot nan effect and power he had arsenic a caput coach astatine nan precocious schoolhouse level astatine Liberty Christian. He’s really typical successful that regard.

“Some of nan different things that resonate pinch maine are his humility and nan type of teammate I cognize he’s going to be, some connected our unit and pinch our players. He’ll beryllium a sponge erstwhile it comes to learning what we do and really we do it. He brings truthful overmuch to nan array successful position of coaching, mentoring and leading, and he’s had opportunities to coach successful nan NFL. But we’re aligned successful that our hearts are pinch nan 18- to 23-year-olds who request you now much than ever. He’s ever been astir that. Through casual speech and getting to cognize him complete nan years, that’s thing that really jumped retired to maine and stuck pinch me.

“Jason has been a elephantine successful nan crippled of shot for a agelong clip pinch what he’s accomplished and represented connected nan field. He’s 1 of nan champion to ever do it. I’m excited astir nan affirmative effect he’ll person connected our shot programme and each of our players.”

OU Tight Ends Coach Jason Witten:

“I emotion shot and I emotion school nan game, and Oklahoma is arsenic prestigious a assemblage shot programme arsenic location is successful nan country. So I’m thankful to Coach Venables for nan opportunity to activity together. It’s been clear to maine from nan outset that he’s 1 of nan champion leaders of men successful football. And he has nan pieces successful spot to compete for championships, truthful I’m excited to activity nether him and Coach (Ben) Arbuckle and pinch nan remainder of nan staff. It’s a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to beryllium a Sooner.

“I cognize what nan expectations and standards of Oklahoma Football are and I’m excited to thin into and clasp those. But on nan way, it’s besides a awesome privilege to positively effect young men – to thief them go nan champion players they tin beryllium and nan champion men they tin be. That’s 1 of nan things I respect nan astir about Coach Venables – that those things aren’t mutually exclusive. You tin return connected nan work to lead men but besides beryllium highly competitory successful your craft. I effort to uphold those standards connected and disconnected nan field.

“I’m excited to get successful that tight ends room and activity pinch OU’s awesome unit and players.”