It looks like former Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Jason Witten didn’t enjoy his retirement all that much, since he is returning to professional football. Less than a year since he left NFL, Witten decided to come back and sign a one-year deal with the Cowboys.
According to ESPN, the 36-year-old will receive $3.5 million for 2019, but the value of the contract could go up to $5 million based on incentives.
The news was confirmed on the Cowboys’ official social media.
“The fire inside of me to compete and play this game is just burning too strong,” – said Witten 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.”
Jason Witten announced his retirement in May 2018 in order to join ESPN‘s Monday Night Football. He signed a four-year deal with the network, but obviously liked being more on the pitch viewing the game from the studio.
“I’ve known for about 10 to 14 days that he was seriously deliberating this,” – said Dallas’ owner/general manager Jerry Jones. “As you know, when Jason retired last year, he had a real difficult decision. He obviously missed it. I’ve never seen anybody really embrace the physical part of football like Jason. He missed that. The rougher it is, the better. We’re happy to have him. We think he can still play and he thinks he can still play.”
Jason Witten spent his entire career with Dallas Cowboys, who took him in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. During his time with the organization he earned 11 Pro Bowl selections while receiving two First-team All-Pro honors. Witten currently holds several Cowboys’ franchise records including most games played (239), most career receptions (1,152), and most career receiving yards (12,448) He is also ranked second in all-time career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, with only Tony Gonzalez being ahead of him.
