After spending the 2020 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jason Witten announced his retirement from football this offseason. The 38-year-old plans to sign a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys in March when his contract expires.
For Witten, it marks the second time he has retired, previously doing so after the 2017 season. That year, he accepted a position as the lead analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football telecasts.
Witten’s stint in the broadcast booth was short-lived, as he returned to the Cowboys for a 16th season the following year. Now that he is retired again, there was speculation Witten could look to land another announcing job.
However, it appears Witten has gone in a different direction as he was recently named the new head coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, where his children attend, per ESPN’s Todd Archer:
“Faith. Family. Football,” Witten said in a statement released by the school. “In this next chapter, it is important to me to be the best father and husband I can be, while making a positive impact in the community and share the wisdom I’ve accumulated over the years to positively impact the next generation.”
Witten is the second NFL player to retire this offseason and accept a high school head coaching job, joining Philip Rivers, who will coach at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama.
Appearing in all 16 games with the Raiders this past season, Witten caught 13 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Those represented some of the lowest totals of his career, but he made his biggest impact off the field, mentoring some of the team’s younger players.
Even with Witten retiring, the Raiders remain in good shape at the tight end position. The group is led by Darren Waller, who is coming off another strong season and his first Pro Bowl selection.
Behind him on the depth chart are Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier and Nick Bowers, who are more known for their blocking skills. Moreau, however, caught two touchdowns in 2020 and was a big red zone threat during his rookie season in 2019. With Witten no longer around, he figures to see the biggest uptick in playing time in 2021.
