Jason Witten is officially one step closer to football immortality. The former Tennessee Volunteers standout and longtime Dallas Cowboys icon has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 - his first year on the ballot.
And if you’ve followed Witten’s career at all, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The numbers, the longevity, the leadership - it all adds up to a Hall of Fame résumé.
Witten’s case is built on more than just stats, though the stats are staggering. He’s the Cowboys’ all-time leader in games played (255), receptions (1,215), and receiving yards (12,977).
That’s not just good - that’s franchise-defining. In a team history that includes names like Michael Irvin and Tony Dorsett, Witten stands alone at the top in those categories.
He also earned 11 Pro Bowl selections, one of only two players in Cowboys history to do so.
Drafted in 2003, Witten was a third-round pick who became the gold standard for consistency and toughness at the tight end position. He missed just one game in his entire 17-year career - and that came during his rookie season.
After initially retiring in 2018, he returned to Dallas for the 2019 season, then played his final year with the Raiders in 2020. He even spent a season in the Monday Night Football booth before lacing up the cleats one last time.
Before all that, Witten made his name at Tennessee, where he played from 2000 to 2002. A homegrown product from Elizabethton, TN, he chose to stay in-state and suit up for the Vols.
His sophomore season was his breakout - 28 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns, including a 125-yard performance in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan. That game put him on the national radar.
As a junior, Witten took another leap. He led the team in receiving with 39 catches for 493 yards and five touchdowns, earning a spot as a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end. He also set a school record for receiving yards by a tight end that still stands.
Now, two decades later, Witten’s legacy is being recognized on the sport’s biggest stage. To earn enshrinement in Canton, he’ll need to receive at least 80% of the vote from the Hall of Fame selection committee. That announcement will come during Super Bowl week in San Francisco this February.
It’s a competitive group of finalists - as it always is - but Witten’s combination of production, durability, and leadership makes him one of the most complete tight ends the game has seen. Whether it happens this year or in the near future, his bronze bust in Canton feels inevitable.
And while Witten awaits his Hall of Fame fate, Tennessee fans have another Witten to keep an eye on. His son, Cooper Witten, is a five-star linebacker in the class of 2027 and one of the top prospects in the country. Tennessee is among the 10 finalists for his commitment, battling it out with heavyweights like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas.
So as one chapter of the Witten legacy potentially closes with a Hall of Fame nod, another may just be getting started on Rocky Top.