Jason Witten life and biography

Jason Wittenis an American football player who currently plays as a Tight End for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.

PRO: Through seven seasons, Jason Witten has emerged as one of the top tight ends in the NFL and one of the most prolific pass catchers in Cowboys history. He has appeared in six consecutive Pro Bowl games for the most Pro Bowl appearances by a Cowboys tight end. After a 2007 season that saw Witten establish a club tight end record with 96 catches while also becoming the first tight end in franchise history – 13th in league history – to top 1,000 yards in a season, Witten now owns the top spot for career receiving yards among club tight ends (5,965). The 2009 season ended with Witten again at the top of the club’s receptions list for the third straight season with 94 – third-most in a season in club history – for 1,030 yards to become the third tight end in league history to post multiple 90-catch, 1,000-yard seasons. His second 1,000-yard season also allowed Witten to join Tony Gonzalez (four times), Todd Christensen, Shannon Sharpe and Kellen Winslow Sr. (three times each) and Antonio Gates (two) as the only tight ends in league history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He is also climbing the club’s all-time receiving charts as his 523 receptions are good for second and his 5,965 yards are fifth. Witten led all pass catchers with 81 catches for 952 yards – good for second on the team - in 2008. His receptions totals over the previous six seasons allowed him to become the third of four tight ends in league history to string together six consecutive seasons with at least 60 receptions. His four seasons with 80-or-more receptions ties him with Christensen for the second-most behind Gonzalez (five). His 96 catches in 2007 tied the third-most ever by a tight end in the league and were the most by an NFC tight end. His reception total from 2007 allowed him to become just the eighth tight end in league history, first in Cowboys history, to put together four consecutive seasons with at least 60 catches. Witten has the top-four and six of the top-10 reception totals in a season by a club tight end, including his team tight end record 96 catches in 2007. His 94 in 2009 are second while his 87 in 2004 are third and his 81 in 2008 are fourth. Witten also has the top-four and six of the top-10 receiving yard totals in a season by a club tight end, including his tight end record of 1,145 from 2007. His 1,030 in 2009 are second while his 980 in 2004 are third and his 952 in 2008 are fourth. Witten actually began his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee as a defensive end, but he switched to tight end as a freshman. In three years, he quickly became one of the best tight ends in college football and left school after his junior season. As the Cowboys third round pick in 2004 (69th overall), Witten got off to a slow start as a rookie, catching just eight passes in his first eight games before turning things around in the second half of the season, when he tallied 27 receptions. He finished the season with 35 receptions for 347 yards and one touchdown. His career took off in 2004 when he became quarterback Vinny Testaverde’s go-to receiver. That trend has continued through each of the following seasons. Of his 348 career receptions, 198 have gone for first downs, including 69 on third or fourth down. A model of durability, Witten has appeared in 116 of a possible 117 games, missing just one game after breaking his jaw against Arizona (10/5/03) and undergoing surgery to have three plates put in on Oct. 6, 2003.

2009:
# Named to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl after finishing with his 1,030 receiving yards - good for 10th in the NFC, tops among tight ends and 21st in the NFL, third among tight ends.
# His team leading 94 receptions were third in the NFC, tops among tight ends and ninth in the NFL - second among tight ends.
# In the season opener at Tampa Bay (9/13), recorded five catches for 71 yards with a long reception of 20 yards. His 71 receiving yards allowed him to reach 5,000 receiving yards to become the sixth pass catcher in team history to accomplish the feat.
# Posted a team-high five receptions for 33 yards and one touchdown against the N.Y. Giants (9/20) in the first game at Cowboys Stadium.
# Led the team with nine catches for 77 yards against Carolina (9/28). Passed Keith Jackson (441) for 12th on the NFL’s all-time tight end receptions list with 448 career receptions and also moved up to 22nd on the league’s all-time tight end receiving yards list with 5,116 career yards, passing Jimmie Giles (5,084), Mickey Shuler (5,100) and Charle Young (5,106).
# Recorded four receptions for 31 yards at Denver (10/4) to give him 452 receptions for his career, becoming the fifth pass catcher in team history to reach 450 career catches, joining Drew Pearson, Tony Hill, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. Witten reached 450 in 99 games - the second fastest behind Irvin’s 96 games. He also became the 12th tight end in league history to reach 450 catches, but just the second to do so in less than 100 games (Kellen Winslow, 89 games, 1979-87). Witten now ranks 11th on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receptions list with 452, surpassing Wesley Walls (450).
# Played in his 100th career game and recorded five receptions for 47 yards with a long reception of 11 yards at Kansas City (10/11). Through his first 100 career games, he ranks second in catches and third in yards compared to the NFL’s all-time tight ends receptions leaders through their first 100 career games.
# Finished with five receptions for 53 yards at Atlanta (10/25). His 53 receiving yards upped his career total to 5,247 to move him past Frank Clarke (5,214) for fifth on Dallas’ all-time receiving yards chart and 18th all-time among league tight ends, passing Brett Jones (5,195), Dave Casper (5,216) and John Mackey (5,236). His five receptions allowed him to pass Todd Christensen (461) and tie with Mickey Shuler for ninth on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receptions list with 462.
# Had four receptions for 36 yards against Seattle (11/1) to give him 5,283 for his career and pass Russ Francis (5,262) and tie Keith Jackson for 16th all-time among league tight ends. Also moved into ninth place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list with 466.
# Led the team with seven catches for 43 yards with four of his receptions picking up the necessary yardage for a first down - three on third downs at Philadelphia (11/8). His 43 receiving yards allowed him to pass Wesley Walls (5,291) for 15th all-time among league tight ends.
# Led the team with five receptions for 43 yards against Washington (11/22). His five catches allowed him to pass Tony Hill (479) for fourth in club history and Jackie Smith (480) for eighth in league history among tight ends.
# Finished with five catches for a season-best 107 yards with a long reception of 44 yards against Oakland (11/26). Marked his first 100-yard game of the season, ninth of his career and second consecutive 100-yard Thanksgiving Day game. His five catches upped his career total to 488 and allowed him to pass Emmitt Smith (486) for third in club history. While his 107 yards gave him 5,523 for his career allowing him to pass Bob Tucker (5,421), Jerry Smith (5,496) and Rich Caster (5,515) for 12th on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receiving yards list.
# At the N.Y. Giants (12/6) led the team with 14 receptions (second-best total of his career - 15 at Detroit, 12/9/07) for a career-best 156 yards - marking his second career back-to-back 100-yard performance and upping his club tight end record to 10 for his career. Along with Miles Austin (145 and 104), they became the first Cowboy receivers to each record back-to-back 100-yard games since Bob Hayes and Lance Rentzel in 1967 (Nov. 19 and Nov. 23). His 14 catches gave him 502 for his career allowing him to become the sixth tight end in league history to reach 500 career catches, and he accomplished the feat in just 107 games - the second fastest behind Kellen Winslow (101). He now has 73 catches on the season marking his sixth straight season with 60-or-more catches. He and Antonio Gates became the third and fourth tight ends in league history to have six straight 60-plus catch seasons along with Tony Gonzalez (11 straight) and Shannon Sharpe (six). His 502 career catches are also good for second all-time in club history behind Michael Irvin’s 750. His 156 receiving yards are the second-most in a game in team history by a tight end behind Doug Cosbie’s 159 at Detroit, 9/15/85. He now has 5,679 yards for his career which allowed him to pass Ben Coates (5,555) for 11th on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receiving yards list.
# In the win over previously undefeated New Orleans (12/19) had five catches for 44 yards to give him 5,772 for his career, allowing him to pass Riley Odoms (5,755) for 10th on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receiving yards list.
# At Washington (12/27) in the playoff clinching win, led the team with 117 receiving yards on six catches with a career-long 69-yard reception. Marked his 100th career start and his 11th career 100-yard game - third of the season. The 117 yards were also good for the eighth-most by a tight end in team history. Now has 5,889 career receiving yards which allowed him to pass Mike Ditka (5,812) and Todd Christensen (5,872) for eighth on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receiving yards list.
# Finished with six catches for 76 yards with one touchdown as the team clinched its 17th NFC East Division title against Philadelphia (1/3/10). Upped his season receiving total to 1,030 to mark his second 1,000-yard receiving season and it is only the second time in club history a tight end has reached 1,000 yards (Witten in 2007 with 1,145). Joins Tony Gonzalez (four times), Todd Christensen, Shannon Sharpe and Kellen Winslow Sr. (three) and Antonio Gates (two) as the only tight ends in league history to post multiple 1,000-yard seasons. His six receptions gave him 94 for season, marking the third-most at any position in a season in club history. He also became just the third tight end in league history to post multiple 90-catch and 1,000-yard seasons (2007 and 2009). He joined Gonzalez (2000, 2004, 2007 and 2008) and Christensen (1983 and 1986) as the only tight ends to accomplish the feat.
# Led the team with postseason career-bests in catches (10) and yards (98) at Minnesota (1/17/10). His 98 yards were also good for the second-best receiving yards total by a tight end in postseason club history - Jay Novacek, 104 yards against Green Bay (1/8/95). For his career, Witten has 293 postseason receiving yards which is good for 12th all-time in team postseason history. His 10 catches also marked the second-most by a tight end in a playoff game in club history - Novacek, 11 against Green Bay (1/8/95). Has 28 postseason career catches which is 11th all-time in club postseason history.

2008:
# Earned his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl, leading the team and finishing sixth in the NFC – second among tight ends – with 81 receptions for 952 yards – second on the team, 13th in the NFL and second among tight ends – and four touchdowns.
# Became the fifth of six tight ends in league history to have 60-or-more catches in five consecutive seasons and the 10th tight end to have back-to-back 70+ catch seasons.
# Joined Michael Irvin as the only two Dallas pass catchers with three seasons of at least 80 catches and joined Terrell Owens as the only players in team history to record back-to-back 80-catch seasons.
# With two 100-yard outings on the season, upped his team tight end record of 100-yard games to eight.
# Led the team with 96 yards – becoming the sixth player in club history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards – and a team-high tying six catches – all for first downs – in the season opener at Cleveland (9/7).
# Suffered a right shoulder sprain in the home-opening win against Philadelphia (9/15), but finished the game with team highs for catches (seven) and yards (110).
# Led the team once again with seven receptions for 67 yards while also throwing the key block that allowed Felix Jones to rumble for a 60-yard touchdown run at Green Bay (9/21).
# Tied for the team lead with seven catches for a team-best 90 yards with his first touchdown of the season – tying Jay Novacek for 10th in club history with 22 touchdown catches – against Washington (9/28).
# Had a team-high eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati (10/5) to move into the 25th spot on the NFL’s all-time tight ends receptions list and fifth on the club’s all-time receptions list.
# Caught four passes for 55 yards in the overtime loss at Arizona (10/12).
# At St. Louis (10/19) posted a team-high six catches for 44 yards to tie Russ Francis and Jackie Harris for 21st on the NFL’s all-time tight end receptions list and become the sixth pass catcher in franchise history to reach 4,500 career receiving yards.
# Caught just one pass for eight yards before leaving the game in the second quarter with a rib injury against Tampa Bay (10/26).
# Played at the N.Y. Giants (11/2) with a broken rib suffered the previous week and failed to catch a pass for the first time in 74 games.
# Continued to see limited time as a pass catcher with the broken rib at Washington (11/16) but caught two passes for 34 yards.
# Held to one catch for 11 yards against San Francisco (11/23) before suffering a jaw injury.
# Came out strong on Thanksgiving Day against Seattle (11/27) with a team and season-high nine catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Became the 21st tight end in league history and fifth Dallas pass catcher to reach 400 career receptions. Reached 400 in 91 career games, the third-fastest tight end in league history to 400.
# Led the team with six catches for 62 yards to give him 64 catches this season – his fifth consecutive 60-plus catch season – at Pittsburgh (12/7).
# Had five catches for 44 yards and a crucial third down catch to keep the final scoring drive alive against the N.Y. Giants. Upped his career receiving yards total to 4,798 to move into 27th place in league history among tight ends. Also upped his career receptions total to 417 to tie Brent Jones for 18th place in league history among tight ends.
# Led the team with 87 yards with a touchdown – the final Cowboys touchdown at Texas Stadium – on five catches against Baltimore (12/20) in the final game at Texas Stadium.
# In the season-ending loss at Philadelphia (12/28), led the club with seven catches for 50 yards and completed his first career pass attempt for 42 yards to Terrell Owens after taking a lateral from Tony Romo.

2007:
# Put together the most prolific pass catching season by a tight end in club history, establishing franchise tight end records for catches (96 – third in the NFC, first among tight ends, 10th in the NFL, second among tight ends), receiving yards (1,145 – 14th in the league, second among tight ends) and a career-high seven touchdowns.
# Named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl – the second-most by a tight end in club history (Novacek, five) as one of a league record 13 Cowboys to play in the all-star game.
# Also earned All-NFL Team honors by the Pro Football Writers.
# Became the eighth tight end in league history to record at least 60 catches in four consecutive seasons.
# Opened the season against the N.Y. Giants (9/9) with one of the best days of his career, catching six passes for 116 yards (second-most of his career and the sixth-best by a tight end) and one touchdown.
# Added six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown at Chicago (9/23) to pass 3,000 career receiving yards, the fourth tight end in franchise history to accomplish that feat, joining Cosbie (3,728), Novacek (3,576) and Billy Joe DuPree (3,565).
# Became the club’s third all-time leading tight end in receptions, passing DuPree (267) with six catches against St. Louis (9/30).
# Led the team with nine catches for 103 yards and a touchdown at Buffalo (10/8). The 103 yards tied Cosbie for the 13th-highest yardage output by a tight end in club history while the touchdown was his third consecutive game with a score – the longest streak of his career.
# Led the team with a then single-game high 10 catches for 86 yards against Minnesota (10/21).
# Had a then career-long 53-yard reception at Philadelphia (11/4) along with three receptions for 77 yards and one score.
# Against the N.Y. Jets (11/22) on Thanksgiving Day, finished with four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown to move into seventh place – second among tight ends – on the club’s all-time receiving yards list.
# With six catches against Green Bay (11/29) recorded his 65th catch of the season, marking the fourth consecutive season with 60-or-more catches to become the eighth tight end in NFL history – first in team history – to accomplish that feat.
# Had a career-day at Detroit (12/9) catching a single-game career-high and team record 15 passes for a career-high 138 yards (second-most by a tight end in club history) and the game-winning touchdown.
# The Lions game marked his third 100-yard day of the season and fifth of his career and his touchdown catch was his seventh of the season to establish a career-high.
# Added 113 yards on eight catches against Philadelphia (12/16) to become the first tight end in franchise history to record back-to-back 100-yard games.
# The Eagles game allowed him to surpass 1,000 receiving yards on the season to establish a career-high and mark the first time in team history – 13th time in NFL history – a tight end topped 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

2006:
# Continued his emergence as one of the NFL’s elite tight ends, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance after ranking second in the NFC, sixth in the NFL among tight ends with 64 catches and 754 yards.
# Became the first tight end in Cowboys history to have at least 60 receptions in three consecutive seasons, and one of just 10 tight ends in NFL history to accomplish that feat – Novacek (1992, 1995) and Cosbie (1984, 1985) are the only other Cowboys tight ends to record at least 60 receptions.
# Recorded his 200th career catch with four catches for 51 yards against Philadelphia (10/8).
# Logged a season-high seven catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in a Sunday night win at Carolina (10/29), Romo’s first career start.
# Had 73 receiving yards against the N.Y. Giants (12/3), including a then career-long 42-yard reception in the final minute, setting up Martin Gramatica’s winning field goal.
# In his second career playoff game, had a team-high 57 receiving yards – including a 32-yard catch on fourth-and-two to setup a touchdown before halftime – on three catches at Seattle (1/6/07).

2005:
# Became the first Dallas tight end to have at least 65 receptions in consecutive seasons and was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl to become the fourth tight end to have made multiple Pro Bowl appearances – Novacek (five), Cosbie (three) and DuPree (three).
# Among tight ends, finished third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL with 66 receptions; fourth in the NFC and seventh in the NFL with 757 receiving yards; and fourth in the NFC and tied for sixth in the NFL with six touchdown receptions, tying a then career-high.
# Led the team with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown at San Francisco (9/25) as each of his receptions went for a first down.
# At Oakland (10/2) led the team with five catches for 49 yards, and four of his catches went for a first down, including three on third down.
# Had five catches for 56 yards – including a 26-yard catch in overtime to extend a drive that resulted in the game-winning field goal – and a touchdown against the N.Y. Giants (10/16).
# Against Arizona (10/30), was second on the team with five catches for a game-high 71 yards, including a season-long 34-yard catch.
# Tied a career-high with nine catches for 82 yards and a touchdown against Denver (11/24).
# Had just one catch at the N.Y. Giants (12/4) that marked his 50th catch of the season.
# Posted a season-high 93 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Kansas City (12/11).
# Finished the season with four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown against St. Louis (1/1/06).

2004:
# In just his second pro season, became the first Dallas tight end to make the Pro Bowl since Novacek in 1995 after leading the team – tied for seventh in the NFC and 11th in the NFL – with 87 catches and a then career-high six touchdown catches.
# The 87 catches ranked first in the NFC and second in the NFL among tight ends.
# Joined Cosbie as the only tight ends to lead Dallas in receptions in a season.
# Was second on the team with 980 receiving yards – 12th in the NFC, 27th in the league, first among NFC tight ends and second among league tight ends – just one fewer than team leader Keyshawn Johnson.
# Scored his first touchdown of the season on a 10-yard catch at Washington (9/27), to help Dallas win 21-18.
# Led the team with five receptions for 35 yards against the N.Y. Giants (10/10).
# At Green Bay (10/24) led the team with eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown to mark the first 100-yard receiving game by a Dallas tight end since Novacek had 104 yards against Green Bay in the playoffs (1/9/95).
# Had a then career-long 42-yard touchdown catch against the Packers to mark the longest by a Dallas tight end since Cosbie’s 61-yard touchdown catch at the Giants on Oct. 30, 1983.
# Set a then career-high with nine catches – the most by a Dallas tight end since Novacek had 11 against Green Bay (1/8/95) – for 84 yards and a touchdown against Detroit (10/31).
# Averaged a season-high 16.2 yards-per-catch at Cincinnati (11/7) and led the team with six receptions for 97 yards, including catches of 18, 25 and 33 yards.
# Set career-highs against Philadelphia (11/17) for receiving yards (133 – the second-most by a Dallas tight end, behind Cosbie’s 159 yards at Detroit on Sept. 15, 1985) and touchdowns (two – the first multiple-touchdown game by a Dallas tight end since Jackie Harris had two against San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2000) and tied a then career-high with nine receptions.
# Recovered an onside kick at the Cowboys 43-yard line that set up the winning touchdown drive in a come-from-behind win at Seattle (12/6).
# Moved past Cosbie’s club record for receiving yards in a season (793 yards) on his first catch, and his second catch moved him past Novacek’s club record for receptions in a season by a tight end (68 receptions), finishing the game with a team-high six catches for 66 yards.
• In the season finale at the N.Y. Giants (1/2/05), led the team with eight catches for 77 yards and a score.

2003:
# Finished his rookie season with 35 receptions – tied for 18th in the NFL among tight ends, fourth among rookies and tops among rookie tight ends.
# Eighteen of his catches went for a first down, including nine on third down.
# Made his NFL debut and first start in the season opener against Atlanta (9/7), when the Cowboys opened with two tight ends and logged his first career catch – a 13-yarder – against the Falcons.
# Tied for the team lead with four catches for 41 yards before suffering a fractured jaw in the fourth quarter against Arizona (10/5).
# Underwent surgery to have three plates inserted in his jaw on Oct. 6 and was inactive against Philadelphia (10/12) but returned to action at Detroit (10/19).
# In the Cowboys 24-20 win over eventual NFC Champion Carolina (11/23), tied for the team lead with six receptions for 49 yards, including a 13-yard reception on third-and-eight with 1:47 left to seal the win.
# On Thanksgiving Day against Miami (11/27), posted season-highs of eight receptions and 58 yards – it was the most receptions in a game by a Dallas tight end since Eric Bjornson had eight at San Francisco (11/10/96). It also tied for the second-most receptions in a game by a Dallas receiver in 2003.
# Blocking at Washington (12/14) helped Troy Hambrick rush for 189 yards, the third-most in club history.
# Had one catch against the N.Y. Giants (12/21), a season-long 36-yard reception that resulted in his first career touchdown – the longest reception by a club tight end since Cosbie’s 61-yard scoring catch at the N.Y. Giants on Oct. 30, 1983 – to give Dallas a 10-3 lead in a game Dallas won 19-3 to clinch a playoff berth.
# Had his first career special teams tackle in the season finale at New Orleans (12/28).
# In the Wild Card Playoff Game at Carolina (1/3/04), tied for second on the team with four receptions for 30 yards.

COLLEGE:

# Left Tennessee after his junior season but still finished third all-time among the school’s tight ends with 68 career receptions and fourth all-time with 797 receiving yards.
# As a junior, set single-season school records for a tight end in receptions (39) and receiving yards (493) with five touchdowns.
# Selected as a consensus All-Southeastern Conference pick after leading the conference’s tight ends in receptions and receiving yards while also being an Academic All-SEC pick.
# Played in every game as a sophomore, including three starts, and finished third on the team with 28 receptions for 293 yards (10.5 yards-per-catch) and two touchdowns.
# Because of a shortage of players, was moved from defensive end to tight end as a freshman and backed up John Finlayson and played in 11 games, with two starts.

PERSONAL:

# Attended Elizabethton, Tenn., High School, where he was a consensus All-America selection at linebacker by PrepStar, Parade, Gridiron Greats, USA Today, Blue Chip Illustrated, and Street and Smith.
# As a senior, selected as the USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee, the East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up for the Mr. Football award after recording 163 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, two blocked kicks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
# Also played tight end, adding 26 receptions for 345 yards and 14 touchdowns.
# As a four-year starter at linebacker and tight end, led his team to the state semifinals three times and earned all-state honors as a junior and senior and left as the school’s record holder with 450 career tackles.
# Averaged 15.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per-game for the basketball team.
# His wife, Michelle, is an emergency room nurse at a local hospital in Dallas.
# They have two sons, C.J. and Cooper.
• Was an Arts and Sciences major at Tennessee.

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